Coastal Security Police (Marine) in the State is all set to become an independent elite force in the next couple of years. Officials concerned are working on the dynamics of the new set-up.
Disclosing this to The Hindu , Inspector General of Police, CSP, G. Suryaprakash Rao said the idea was to have a separate special force for the security of the coast on par with the elite anti-naxal force the Greyhounds or the anti-terror force the Octopus. While the funds for development will be given by the Centre, the State government will manage the force with manpower. The force will have its own armament, specialised units, including a commando strike force. It is aimed to make the force a potential third-tier security ring after the Navy and the Coast Guard. On the training front, a proposal has been mooted to set-up a full-fledged training centre at Machilipatnam and experts from Navy and CG will train the members in various aspects such as seafaring, rummaging operation and commando tactics on sea.
Mr. G. Suryaprakash Rao also said that Visakhapatnam is likely to be the headquarters for the force, once things are in place. The CSP was set-up in all the coastal States in the country after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, keeping in mind national security.
In the first phase, six Marine Police Stations were set up to man the 974.6 km coastline in AP and in the second phase another 15 were added.
“Plans are afoot to set-up 10 check posts and 5 outposts,” said the IG.
To modernise the force, CSP has placed orders for 30, 12-tonne, fast interceptor boats (FIB) with Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, at an estimated cost of Rs. 60 crore.
The boats will be fitted with latest night vision and communication equipment and tripods to host light machine guns, if required. The CSP already has 18 FIBs, of which only six are operational, the others need repairs.
“Fishermen are our ‘ears and eyes’ and we have recruited 150 from the community as home guards and we plan to recruit at least one SPO from each of the 592 fishing villages.” CSP will also recruit 120 technical staff, preferably ex-Navy or CG to operate the boats.
Officials working on the dynamics of the new set-up
