In view of the anticipated fallout of the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, the Odisha Government has sounded high alert and tightened security in coastline to thwart possible influx of illegal immigrants into the State.
The police have been asked to maintain extra vigil at all coast harbours, fishing jetties, ports and coastal sea boundaries.
The Government fears that those who have not been enlisted in Assam draft NRC may try to sneak into Odisha coast fearing their deportation from Assam, as Odisha has become safer home for thousands of Bangladeshis since years.
The State has a 485 km-long coastline from Baleswar to Ganjam and the vulnerable shoreline needs protection and implementation of strict security scheme.
As a result, the personnel of Navy, the Coast Guard and the Marine Police and the Fisheries Department have been pressed into service.
However, the concern is the three marine police stations functioning in coastal regions of Jagatsinghpur district run scanty of manpower and equipment to deliver the security service.
Shortage of personnel, interceptor boats, arms and ammunitions, electronic gadgets and advanced training have been compromising coastal security endeavours.
The three marine police stations have been built in Jagatsinghpur district at Paradip, Jatadhari river mouth near Erasama and Bandar in the Balikuda coast but all of them lack required jetty for starting sea surveillance and stationing interceptor boats.
The Paradip marine police station uses Paradip fishing harvour for sea voyage. Interestingly, two interceptor boats supplied to the station are standing idle due to technical snag for past two years. The marine crews are still waiting for the boats to be repaired. One inspector rank police officer has been appointed along with a few junior policemen.
In Bandar marine police station, the officer in charge (IIC) post is lying vacant for last one year. The Balikuda police station IIC has been given additional charge, who is supported by one Habildar and six constables. The department has supplied six lathis, two bikes and two guns for security work, whereas it is still to have an interceptor boat. Bandar marine police station possess an well-furnished building, 10 km away from sea shore, without fresh water and electric facilities and staff quarters.
Consequently, the crews use police station as home and depend on nearby villages to arrange drinking water. Ironically, no wireless and telephone facilities have been supplied to the coastal police station since its beginning in the year 2014.
The Centre mandates giving 100 per cent assistance for the infrastructure creation like purchase of interceptor boats, vehicles, arms and ammunitions, electronic devices etc. and the State only shares manpower.
Shortage of trained marine personnel has proved the main hindrance in functioning of the coastal police stations. There is shortage of officers, Habildars , constables and boat crews in each marine police station. Besides, the manpower present is not given proper training so as to fight with sea invaders.
Meanwhile, Jagatsinghpur SP Prakash R said, “We have launched a joint drive at seaside taking the Coast Guard and Fisheries department as well as marine police to thwart possible arrival of any intruders.”