Coastal security has assumed greater significance in view of the growing number of assets and oil installations in the coastal areas.
The presence of assets to the tune of Rs.70,000 crore on the AP coast could attract ISI-sponsored terrorism, said Director-General of Police V. Dinesh Reddy.
Interacting with the media after inaugurating a Police Sub Control Room on the Beach Road near the YMCA here on Wednesday, the DGP said a decision was taken to reduce the multiplicity of security agencies for onshore security at a coordination meet held with oil sector executives and security agencies.
He said that companies which set up on-shore installations had been asked to adopt fishermen villages in their vicinity to elicit the support of the community in times of security threats. It was also decided to recruit more home guards from the fishermen community in the coastal areas.
The company managements were asked to contribute funds to local socio-religious functions in the coastal villages to increase their affinity with the villagers and they had been directed to thoroughly check the antecedents of contract labour before appointing them.
When asked to comment on the rise in Maoist activities on the Chhattisgarh border, Mr. Dinesh Reddy said the operations were conducted jointly by the Chhattisgarh and AP police, under the leadership of the AP Police.
Compensation
This was the first time that the AP Police had gone 42-km inside Chhattisgarh to participate in the anti-naxal operations. Describing the killing of Greyhounds Reserve Inspector Vara Prasad as “unfortunate,” the DGP said that the RI had saved the lives of four colleagues before falling to the bullets of the Maoists.
Mr. Dinesh Reddy said he had visited the RI’s bereaved family members in his native village near Anakapalle earlier in the morning along with Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao.
An amount of Rs.50 lakh would be paid as compensation to the family members and his sister would be given a job.
He ruled out any threat to the State from the Maoists — the AP Police have a chopper for anti-Maoist operations besides UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) support to detect their movements. On the SIMS (Secured Investment Making Services) fraud case, he felt there was no need to hand over the case to the CID as the city police were doing a good job. Already, several directors of the company were arrested and investigation was progressing well.
Home guards’ salaries
On enhancement of salaries of home guards, he said a proposal was already submitted to the government in this regard and it was likely to be sanctioned this year.
Earlier, the DGP inaugurated a Coastal Security Police Station near the Fishing Harbour.
Government Whip Dronamraju Srinivas, Police Commissioner B. Shivadhar Reddy, Inspector-General K.V. Rajendranath Reddy, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) P. Viswa Prasad, and a host of police officers and men attended.
Mr. Dinesh Reddy opened the CCTNS LAB and Training Centre at Visakhapatnam on May 1. Sri.V.K.Singh IPS, Additional Director General (Coordination) V.K. Singh District Collector V. Seshadri, Inspector General (North Coastal Zone) K.V. Rajendranadh Reddy, Deputy Inspector General (Visakhapatnam Range) Swathi Lakra and Superintendent (Visakhapatnam Rural) G. Srinivas attended.
