Rajnath Singh okays plan for new coastal police

Mumbai: Home minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday accepted Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis' suggestion to set up a Central Marine Police Force to protect the sea, coast, ports and other vital institutions. Mr Singh, who was here to review security for the coastline, reviewed recommendations from officials and ministers.

Referring to the 26/11 Mumbai attack, Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that creating a stronger coastal policing system would help the Coastal Guard, that protects coastal waters.

He stressed the need to guard not only industrial and commercial establishments as well as strategic installations, but also the entire coastline. Mr Singh said the coastline was made more secure with static sensors and Automatic Identification System receivers on the coast and radars operated by the Coast Guard. Mr Singh said 38 more radars would be installed for gapless surveillance. Mr Fadnavis suggested that marine policing was a specialised job and therefore a Central Marine Police Force was vitally necessary. “Mr Singh has reacted positively to the suggestions made by Mr Fadnavis. We have located land in Gujarat for setting up a central maritime police academy that will specialise in training (for) marine policing,” said Union home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi.