The Hindu : Front Page : Coastal vigilance committees soon

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Tuesday, May 05, 2009
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Coastal vigilance committees soon

G. Anand

Police to enlist services of fishermen and local body members

Jacob Punnoose

Thiruvananthapuram: The State police will form vigilance committees consisting of ‘regularly seafaring’ fishermen and local body members to protect Kerala’s 590-km shoreline against possible seaborne terrorist threats and infiltration bids.

According to guidelines issued on April 27 by Director General of Police (DGP) Jacob Punnoose, the tahsildar will be the chairman of the ‘Coastal Vigilance Committee.’

The Circle Inspector will be its convener. The panchayat president and officials of the Fisheries, Port, Harbour and Matsyafed departments will be its members along with fish workers’ union representatives nominated by the District Collector. The seafaring members of the committee will be nominated in consultation with the police.

Vigil intensified

The police have increased vigil along the State’s shoreline in the wake of the conflict in Sri Lanka. They are not discounting the possibility that militants fleeing the island nation’s conflict zone could use sea routes familiar to fishermen and smugglers to enter the Indian mainland through Kerala coast. Terrorists who attacked Mumbai recently had used the sea route to reach their target.

Surveillance training

Officers of the Coast Guard, Navy and Customs will be invited to attend committee meetings. They will impart training in basic maritime surveillance to seafaring committee members during the monsoon trawling ban season.

The DGP has directed that all boats operating in the territorial and inland waters of the State be registered with the Fisheries and Port departments.

A copy of the licence and registration should be kept on board for inspection. The registration number of the boat should be displayed on the vessel in the manner specified by the government.

Vigilance committee members should report the movement of unregistered and suspicious vessels to the police. They will be given identity cards, but will not have policing powers.

The government will train vigilance committee members in managing natural disasters. The police have stepped up security at ports, harbours and fish landing centres. The committees will conduct coastal security awareness campaigns in fishing hamlets.

Toll-free telephone lines will be provided for coastal security-related matters. The Coast Guard has already trained 350 policemen in maritime enforcement. The training of the next batch will start in Kochi in June. The State police will acquire 24 boats and set up seven more coastal police stations.

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