At a time when incidents of infiltration off the Bay of Bengal are becoming common, coastal security in the State seems to be the most neglected subject. In addition to the Coast Guard, the Andhra Pradesh Police has established 20 marine police stations across the State.
Guntur district has two marine police stations — one in Suryalanka, near Bapatla, and the other at Nizampatnam. Of them, the marine police station at Suryalanka is equipped with three interceptor boats. While two boats have been stranded owing to mechanical failure, only one is fit to be operated. The only operational boat is now in harboured at Nizampatnam coast.
The prowess of the AP Marine Police came to the fore when in 2017, six Sri Lankan fishermen were intercepted in the sea at Nizampatnam. Cases were filed in Bapatla and the fishermen were let off only after the intervention of Sri Lankan Government.
In addition to their regular duties of surveillance off the coast, the Marine Police have also emerged as life guards, in recent times in carrying out rescue operations off the coast. With more number of tourists flocking the beaches, the chances of drowning are high. As thousands took a dip in sea during “Karthika Masam” at Suryalanka, the marine police had their hands full as they reportedly rescued about 20 persons.
“The Marine Police are performing their duties in difficult circumstances. We are in constant touch with local fishermen who give us inputs regarding movement of suspicious persons in the sea. Interceptor boats are the only way through which we can venture into the sea, and with only one boat in operation, we are finding it difficult to man the area between Nizampatnam and Bapatla,” said a police officer.
