Additional Director General of Police, Coastal Security Group, C. Sylendra Babu along with a crew of 16 men on board a sail vessel arrived at Tuticorin Old Harbour on Sunday evening. The expedition, organised to raise awareness of coastal security among fishermen, commenced in Chennai on February 23.
The expedition was launched by Coastal Security Group in association with Indian Coast Guard (ICG). The crew – 12 marine police personnel, two ICG personnel and two Army personnel – had so far covered around 1,000 km, Mr. Babu said while addressing the media.
He said the fishermen, the “eyes and ears” of security personnel, should continue the good relationship with the police. Village vigilance awareness programmes had been conducted involving coastal populace across the State as part of the expedition. Besides, sports competitions involving the fishermen had been organised.
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He said the expedition would conclude at Kanyakumari on Tuesday. The awareness campaign could help popularise yacht sailing. On gold smuggling through sea route, he said intense patrolling at sea had prevented such illegal activities and over the last six months there were no such incidents. During the last year, a couple of gold smuggling racket was busted.
To further strengthen sea patrolling, 20 state-of-the-art speed boats and 24 all-terrain vehicles (ATV) would be inducted within a month.
Inspector General of Police, CSG, K. Chockalingam, Tuticorin Superintendent of Police M. Durai, Deputy Superintendent of Police (CSG) S. Periyakaruppan, Commanding Officer, ICG, Tuticorin, Commandant A. Athinarayanan and Assistant Superintendent of Police P. Arun Sakthi Kumar were present. On Monday, the expedition left Tuticorin.
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The expedition was launched by Coastal Security Group in association with Indian Coast Guard in Chennai on February 23