With intelligence sleuths sounding alert over possibility of terrorists penetrating the country through sea route, police stepped up security in 49 villages, along the coast of Bay of Bengal in Krishna district.
The Marine police were instructed to coordinate with the Coast Guard, Navy and the State and Central forces and increase patrolling on and off the shore in view of the perceived terrorist threat.
About 49 villages were located along the coast in the 127-kilometre stretch in Kruthivennu, Machilipatnam, Bantumilli, Avanigadda, Koduru, Nagayalanka and Mopidevi mandals of Krishna district. An alert was sounded this week in all the seven mandals along the shore and the fishermen were asked to inform the police on the movement of strangers on waters or on shore.
Seven island villages are located in Nagayalanka, Challapalli and Kaikalur Rural mandals. The marine police station set up in Gilakaladindi, Varlagondi and Palakayatippa hamlets have intensified patrolling up to 20 nautical miles in the sea. The district police appointed about 20 home guards in the fishermen villages for coordinating with the police, Superintendent of Police J. Prabhakara Rao told The Hindu on Thursday.
“Security was beefed up in island and coastal villages and the Deputy Superintendents of Police and Circle Inspectors were asked to monitor movements on and off the shore. Police visited a few villages under Challapalli and Nagayalanda police station limits,” said Mr. Rao.
“The marine police were given two mechanised boats with equipment. Police are in touch with Coast Guards, headquartered at Kakinada. We are taking steps to provide security along the coast and urge the fishermen and island villagers to inform the police on entry of any unknown persons,” said the SP.
