CHENNAI: Intelligence machinery along the coast of Tamil Nadu has been strengthened in the wake of the seizure of a huge cache of explosives, Director General of Police D. Mukherjee said here on Friday.

He told a press conference that surveillance was an ongoing process.

The police acted on inputs received from Central and State intelligence agencies. At times they carried out surprise checks.

Mr. Mukherjee said Superintendents of Police in the coastal districts had been sensitised to the need for comprehensive surveillance along the seafront.

He said since 1991, the State police had registered 44 cases against persons smuggling explosives.

In the recent case of seizure of aluminium ingots at Madurai, the police had arrested Karmegam of Madurai and 13 others and were on the lookout for a person identified as Kirupakaran.

Asked about steps taken against brokers who procured materials and supplied them to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Mr. Mukherjee said they had been identified and interrogations were on.

Recently, the police detained three persons under the National Security Act (NSA).

To another question, he said 12 marine police stations, 12 outposts and 40 more check-posts would be established along the coastal areas to step up the seafront surveillance.

"We have received Rs.3.09 crore from the Centre for the first phase of this pilot project. The Centre will also provide two boats for each marine police station. The State police will provide the manpower," he said.

Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence) Nanchil Kumaran was present.

Our Tiruchi Staff Reporter reports:

Sites for the marine police stations have been identified and they will start functioning in a year's time, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) K.V.S. Murthy said here on Friday.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail