Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

Karunanidhi takes stock of security scenario in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu will seek a detachment of the elite National Security Guards to be stationed at Chennai.

The move comes close on the heels of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announcing that NSG units would be established in different parts of the country.

Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi confirmed this while responding to a question here on Monday.

At an urgent meeting of senior police officials at the Secretariat, Mr. Karunanidhi took stock of the security scenario and preparedness of the police force in Tamil Nadu. Chief Secretary K.S. Sripathi and Home Secretary S. Malathi briefed him.

Among other issues, the reaction mechanism of the law enforcing agencies in the event of an emergency was discussed at length. Mr. Sripathi will hold a high-level meeting on Tuesday in which critical issues, including upgrading infrastructure of Special Forces, would be taken up, police sources said.

The Tamil Nadu Commando Force, which presently has 290 well-trained commandos, will request for acquiring modern weaponry, sophisticated gadgets and specialised training facilities, Inspector General of Police (Operations), Ashutosh Shukla, told The Hindu.

Asked whether there was any plan to have joint exercises with other agencies, a senior police official said the State police already had adequate expertise.

“At the Tamil Nadu Commando School, we have experts drawn from different agencies, including defence forces, who train snipers, bomb detection and disposal and anti-sabotage techniques.

It has been planned to deploy companies of the Tamil Nadu Special Police (Special Force), Veerapuram, strategically at vulnerable areas for better accessibility,” he said. Steps would be taken to integrate the available expertise and infrastructure to create a common platform for strengthening the skills of the force in different areas, including investigation, intelligence and special operations, he said and added that the Union Home Secretary would soon convene a meeting in New Delhi to discuss strategies on coastal security issues, the official added.

Inspector General of Police (Special Task Force) C. Sylendra Babu said the STF was offering training in jungle warfare to commandos attached to the Central Industrial Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force and the Goa Police.

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

Stories in this Section

“Disability the worst fallout of wars”
Watery woes continue for many Chennai residents
Sabhas to take the first initiative
Not enough trained teachers at special schools
A slew of improvements promised at Institute of Mental Health
Additional kerosene for card holders
Political, caste-based programmes should be banned in law college: court
Nehru to look after Arumugam’s portfolios
Panel to coordinate relief works
Assembly session prorogued
“AIADMK wholeheartedly welcomes quota for Arundathiyars”
Trains renumbered
TNERC’s order hailed
Children take ill
‘IT finishing schools’ planned
Books on Carnatic musicians released
Karunanidhi takes stock of security scenario in Tamil Nadu
ART centre at Stanley Hospital
‘Great explainer’ sets forth his ideas
Seminar to hone leadership skills
Sound engineer Sridhar dead
Never too late to combat gastro-intestinal cancer
Illegal sewer connections severed
Encroachments on waterways a factor behind floods
Woman constable found hanging
Indane customers can collect refills
More relief sought
Security at Central station stepped up
Solatium announced
Chidambaram congratulated
“Chennai sabhas need fool-proof security system”
Official postings
State in the process of drafting a new science and technology policy
B.P. Singh for strong action without arbitrariness
Chennai today

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu