Plugging the voids in the existing security system, the 78-km long coastline of the district will come under tighter surveillance with the formal launch of two more coastal police stations on Monday.
While the Vizhinjam coastal police station is currently burdened with monitoring the entire coastal belt with its jurisdiction extending across the territorial waters (12 nautical miles from the coast), the inauguration of stations headquartered at Anchuthengu and Poovar will enhance round-the-clock vigil.
The Anchuthengu coastal police, which will have 29 personnel, including a circle inspector and two sub-inspectors, has been allotted a jurisdiction extending from Kappil in the north to St. Andrew’s Beach, near Menamkulam, in the south.
Also having a sanctioned strength of 29 personnel and led by a Circle Inspector, the Poovar coastal police’s jurisdiction will extend from Adimalathura in the north to South Kollamcode in the south.
The stations have been provided a speed boat each, in addition to life-saving accessories including life jackets and lifebuoys.
They are also equipped with communication devices including wireless sets. Most of the officers of either stations have already been imparted training in swimming with the rest likely to be soon sent for similar training.
According to Neyyattinkara Dy.SP. B. Harikumar, the creation of the new coastal units will enable the police to attend to emergency situations such as mid-sea mishaps and rescue operations without delay.
Disputes that often occur among traditional fisherfolk and with trawlers can also be prevented.
“The lack of constant surveillance along vast coastal stretches also posed a threat to national security. Besides, such unprotected areas were also vulnerable to become safe havens for anti-social elements and criminals,” he said. The newly-created Nagaroor police station, which will come under the Attingal sub-division, will start operating with a strength of 19 personnel, who will be led by a Sub Inspector. Yet to have a building of its own, the station will function from a building provided by the Nagaroor grama panchayat along the Kallambalam-Karette road, Attingal Dy.SP. P. Anil Kumar said.
Jurisdiction
The jurisdiction of the Nagaroor police has been carved out from areas that came under the Attingal, Kallambalam and Kilimanoor police stations.
These included an area of around 35 sq.km. which included the entire area of Nagaroor village, two wards of Karavaram village, seven wards of Alamcode village and five wards of Koduvazhannoor village.
The region is estimated to have a population of roughly 60,000. Various institutions including 13 schools, two colleges, 31 anganvadis and Kesavapuram community health centre will come within the police station limits.
