In a city dotted with private resorts, homestay units and farmhouses to cater to tourists, the police are finding it increasingly complex to keep a watchful eye on potential trouble.
With concerns over coastal security doing the rounds ever since, an instance of human trafficking of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees came to light the safeguards along the entire 157-km coastline of the Union Territory is now under review.
Earlier in this month, as part of strengthening security in the coastal areas, the Coastal Police had conducted a consultative meeting with fishermen and sought their active engagement in maintaining constant vigil on suspicious activity. The police also asked them to pass on information about smuggling, poaching and any suspicious movements in the coastal area.
As a follow up measure, a consultation was held on Wednesday with representatives of beach resorts which dot the coast of Puducherry near Thengaithittu Fishing Harbour.
The meeting was chaired by Superintendent of Police (Security), D. Ravindran and assisted by Coastal Security Police Inspector C. Maran.
Representatives of beach resorts- Le Pondy, Kailash Beach Resorts, Club Mahindra, Nalla Beach Resort, Hotel Puducherry Ashok, Windflower Resorts, St. James Court and a water sports firm- Temple Adventures attended the meeting.
Mr. Ravindran pointed out that the Union Home Ministry had sounded an alert across several States on al-Qaeda’s plans for the formation of an Indian wing to open a campaign in the subcontinent.
Referring to the arrest of Arun Selvarajan by the National Investigation Agency in Tamil Nadu for spying in India on behalf of Pakistan’s Inter- Services Intelligence Agency (ISI), Mr. Ravindran said, “It seems that it was a part of plan to attack Tamil Nadu. When Tamil Nadu itself has become a potential target, the danger is closer home than we imagine.”
Cautioning the beach resort representatives on the possible attacks from the terror groups, he also advised them to pass the information on any suspicious move in their area.
“Be vigilant and alert while receiving guests in your hotel lobby,” added Mr. Ravindran.
The beach resort owners were also asked to share information on any suspicious activities such as landing near their area to the police. They were also advised against allowing their guests in the boats belonging to fishermen in the sea but they can send the boats with necessary permission from authorities.
“Don’t send any guest in a fishing boat to the sea. You may think it is a jolly trip but they may be doing surveillance of targets or indulge in antisocial activities,” said Mr. Maran.
The beach resort owners were asked to watch the beach area all round by deploying necessary men into the area. The police officials asked them to install closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) to monitor all places of their resorts besides screening the guests while entering inside the lobby of resorts. They also advised the resort manager to verify the antecedents of staff thoroughly and would seek assistance of police if necessity arose.
Mr. Maran also told, “We are going to comb coastal area thoroughly and will be checking the unlicensed beach resorts. If we found any unlicensed resort, we will take action against them as per rules.”
The beach resort representatives were advised to call the toll-free number 1093 of police or approach the local police if any suspicious activities of any guest/inmate. They were also asked to receive the guests only through land area not through sea area. Any suspicious landing in beach area should be intimated to them.
The police officials said all information passed on to them would be kept secret and also discussed several measures to strengthen coastal security.
