The long coastline of Nagapattinam district has come under close watch with the Coastal Security Group (CSG) personnel stepping up surveillance on land and sea in the wake of an explosives-laden boat sinking off Gujarat a few days ago.
Patrolling along the Nagapattinam coast has been intensified by CSG personnel using fast interceptor boats and a mechanised vessel looking out for suspicious movement of any vessel.
Alongside mounting surveillance in coordination with the Coast Guard and the district police, the CSG personnel have been holding sensitisation meetings with the Village Vigilance Committees established in the coastal villages, appealing to fishermen to alert them in case they come across movements of suspicious vessels or persons.
Vigil has been heightened in the coastal stretches from Pushpavanam to Kodiakarai and from Kodiyampalayam to Kodiakarai by the CSG personnel working in shifts. Equipped with binoculars, weapons, walkie-talkie and VHF sets besides video cameras, the CSG personnel on board fast interceptor boats were maintaining a close vigil up to five nautical miles from the shore.
Police said that beat constables have been deployed at many landing points in the coastal district as part of the enhanced security measures. Two Quick Reaction Teams of the district police were on standby at Nagapattinam and Sirkazhi to assist the CSG personnel in case of any emergency and to augment the strength, sources said.
Field-level personnel with automatic weapons had been deployed in the 18 check posts manned by the CSG in Nagapattinam district including at Thopputhurai, Pushpavanam, Paravai, Kameswaram, Vilundamavadi, Valuthalaikudi, Kodiakarai and Antharkadu.
Trained guards
The sources said the services of Home Guards were also being engaged in the patrolling duty in the coastal district that presently accounts for three marine police stations located at Nagapattinam, Keezhaiyur and Vedaranyam.
