India’s major cities and iconic installations continue to remain the target of terrorists, the government said.
“As per available inputs, some of the major cities including Hyderabad and iconic installations are on the terrorists’ targets,” Minister of State (MoS) for Home, Ajay Maken told the Upper House.
Maken also said the anti-terror unit of Andhra Pradesh, OCTOPUS, will be at full strength in an year’s time.
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“As per available inputs, the Andhra Pradesh government has created an organisation called Organisation for Counter Terrorist Operation (OCTOPUS), to combat the terror menace, with a strength of 1,590 executive personnel. The OCTOPUS at present has a strength of 390 executive personnel,” he said.
In an another reply, MoS for Home M. Ramachandran said the Union Home Ministry has approved a five-year outlay for the coastal security scheme to the tune of Rs. 400 crore for non-recurring expenditure and Rs. 151 crore for recurring expenditure.
“The Ministry of Home Affairs is implementing a comprehensive coastal security scheme, which is supplemental in nature.
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Under the scheme, assistance is being provided to nine coastal states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal and four coastal Union Territories; Daman and Diu, Lakshadweep, Puducherry and Andaman and Nicobar islands,” Ramachandran said.
He also said that 73 coastal police stations, 97 check posts, 50 outposts and 30 operational barracks would be set up and added that 204 patrol boats, 153 jeeps and 312 motorcycles would be used for patrolling along and off the coastal belt.
An assistance of Rs. 10 lakh per police station has also been approved, Ramachandran said.
The critical coastal radar surveillance network is being established by the Coast Guard on lighthouses. As approved by the government, 46 stations have been identified for installation of radars along the coast, he added.