TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: The coastal police have activated its newly-formed special cadre of informants in the wake of advisory issued by the Coast Guard of possible infiltration by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants into Goa.
“The informants are civilians who frequent the coastal stretch. Any suspicious activity or object in the sea will be informed on which the marine police will immediately act,” an officer said.
Besides the regular police stations, the coastal police have also put in place an extensive network of well informed people to keep a watch on the coastline.
In terms of preparedness, the marine police have lately started regular sensitization programmes for common people, fishermen and lifeguards. “We have intensified patrolling along the entire coastal stretch from Terekhol to Palolem to prevent any possible untoward incidents,” the officer said.
The recent upgradation of infrastructure and logistics has further improved the functioning of the coastal police stations, which was in shambles till a couple of years ago.
The State government recently sanctioned four additional coastal police stations at Talpona, Chapora, Ribandar and Tiracol and two new jetties ~ Ribandar and River Zuari (Agassaim).
In addition, four patrol boats of 12 tons each and 290 technical staff personnel for the coastal police stations have been sanctioned. The entire work will be complete by 2015 which is when the five-year term under the second phase ends.
Three coastal police stations at Siolim, Harbour and Betul are already functioning and nine 12-toner and 5-toner interceptor boats commissioned under the first phase. The boats have been pressed into service to thwart any possible infiltration of attacks by the militants, the coastal police claims.
