Uchipuli sub-divisional police have advised the village panchayat presidents in the coastal areas to maintain close rapport with Special Sub-Inspectors of Police (SSI), acting as Panchayat Liaison Officers (PLOs), to step up vigil along the coast.
After Superintendent of Police N.M. Mylvahanan put in place the additional intelligence gathering system by appointing the PLOs last year, they were directly in touch with villages assigned to them and gather intelligence to prevent problems erupting.
On Tuesday, acting on the orders of the SP, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) (Rameswaram) T. Vijayakumar and Uchipuli Inspector of Police M. Murugan, convened a meeting of the PLOs and panchayat presidents and sensitised them to the need to maintain a close vigil along the coast.
The exercise assumed significance against the backdrop of Indian Coast Guard (ICG) recently intercepting an explosive-laden boat off Gujarat.
Pass on information
The panchayat presidents and elected representatives from Mandapam, Pamban, Thangachimadam, Dhanushkodi and Rameswaram have been asked to keep in touch with the PLOs and pass on information about any suspicious movement of people.
They were asked to share the contact numbers of the PLOs with ward councillors, Mr Murugan said.
The elected representatives were informed about the recently launched “Hello Police” service which allowed the general public to alert the police on antisocial activities, accidents and other illegal acts by calling the Common Access Number 83000 31100, he said.
Visit schools
The panchayat presidents had also been advised to visit schools in their areas and inform the Panchayat Liaison Officers on the activities of students, he also added.
