Ongole: After 26/11, the Intelligence Bureau warned the Central government that some terrorist organisations are planning to enter into main land through coastal districts in AP. Recently, the Prakasam district police arrested a human trafficking racket which was sending six Tamil youth of Sri Lanka to Australia for jobs from Ongole city. In spite of it, the marine police working in Prakasam district didn’t have arms, vehicles for SIs, two wheelers for constables, torch lights to go into the sea during the nights.
Marine police has to keep vigil on the movements of the boats in the sea up to twelve nautical miles. After that the Coast Guard will keep vigil on the movements of the ships in the sea. There are two marine police stations set up at Kothapatnam and Ramayapatnam. Kothapatnam police personnel have to keep vigilance on the sea shore from Chirala to Kothapatnam 72 km on the sea coast. The circle inspector had a jeep. There are two sub-inspectors in the marine police station, if they want go to any village along with constables, they have no vehicles. They have to engage a private vehicle. If they want to go into sea immediately to stop any boat or ship, they are engaging private boats or taking boats from other marine police stations.
The government has a proposal to give two speed boats to each marine police station which was set up in the second phase, but it was not translated into action due to delay in sanctioning funds. Situation is the same in Ramayapatnam marine police station, Nizampatnam of Guntur district, Varlagunditippa and Palakaitippa of Krishna district and the other marine police stations set up in the second phase. The Deputy Chief Minister cum home minister N. Chinarajappa during his recent visit to Prakasam district said that the government will strengthen the marine police stations to step up vigilance on the sea and the state government will open more marine police stations very soon.
A constable who wanted to maintain anonymity said he gets Rs 12,000 salary per month. He has to spend at least Rs 2,000 per month for petrol from his pocket. He has to go to eight to 10 km radius to keep vigil on the movements of the fishermen in villages. There are eight beats in Kothapatnam marine police station in Prakasam district. The station has two wheelers. Remaining constables are using their own bikes for their duty.
Marine DSP B. Ramakrish-na Prasad said, “The government will provide necessary infrastructure in the marine police station set up in the second phase by 2016. I recommended a van for each police station. The government has taken up construction of buildings for the marine police station buildings set up in the second phase. The CPWD is executing the works and will complete the buildings soon.” “The government will fill the vacant Ramayapatnam and Isukapalli circle inspector posts in Nellore district very soon. In a phased manner, the government will provide facilities in marine police stations,” he added.
