Balasore: Balasore district is endowed with an 84-km long coastline. However, owing to lack of adequate security measures and proper vigil, coastal pockets in the district have remained vulnerable to intrusion of infiltrators, a report said.
According to the report, there are three marine police stations along the coast to keep vigil on unlawful activities and check infiltration from across Indian waters.
Balaramgadi marine police station and Kasaphala police station are under Sadar block while Talsari Marine police station is under Bhograi block. However, all these marine police station are plagued by staff shortage, which has resulted in poor vigil on the waters.
Given the situation, many people from West Bengal (one of the hotspot states for Covid) are seen entering Odisha through water routes when Covid pandemic is surging fast in the state.
On the other hand, the rate of Covid infection is spiking in fringe areas of Balasore. It is alleged that many people from West Bengal and Bangladesh are fishing in territorial waters.
They come to Odisha to repair boats and their fishing nets. Their entry will worsen the Covid situation in coastal pockets like Bhograi, Baliapal, Sadar area, Bahanaga and Remuna.
Notably, after the 2008 terrorist attack on Mumbai, the central government took steps to tighten coastal security along the porous coastline. Thereafter, three marine police stations were set up along the coast in Balasore.
When Balaramgadi marine police station was set up, it was provided with an inspector, six sub-inspectors, six ASIs, 17 havildars and 48 constables. The police station had two vans and two boats for patrolling.
Besides, 16 ex-Army personnel were appointed at the police station. Now, the police station lacks half of the previous manpower. It is now manned by a sub-inspector, a havildar, four constables and six home guards.
Kasaphala police station is also plagued by staff shortage. It is manned by an inspector, a havildar and seven constables while Talasri marine police station has an inspector, three ASIs and four constables.
The existing personnel have been feeling the pinch of work pressures. At this pandemic time, patrolling along the coast has been vital to check infiltration, but staff shortage in the marine police stations fails to ensure strict vigil along the coastline.
IIC of Balaramgadi police station, Ajay Kumar Murmu, said they are still carrying out patrolling in the sea with a boat.
PNN