Bhubaneswar: The state needs to strengthen coastal security in the face of growing terrorist threat and drugs smuggling in the state. Bhubaneswar along with 29 other major cities of the country is on the hit list of the terrorists of JeM. The Intelligence Bureau sleuths have recovered the threatening letter typed in Hindi by one Shamsher Wani, who is stated to be a JeM operative.
This apart, the authorities in Gujarat, Mumbai and Odisha were alerted against possible terrorist intrusion through the porous coastline of the states few days back as well. These two incidents indicated towards the largely peaceful Odisha being also vulnerable to attacks by the terrorists.
The terrorist can also use the state as a safe haven before or after the planned terrorist attacks.
Meanwhile, the Special Task Force of Crime Branch which arrested the drugs kingpin, Sk Raja, had reportedly found incriminating information regarding the use of fishing trawlers by the accused to procure drugs from neighbouring countries. It can safely be concluded that the coastline which is being used for drugs smuggling could also used to smuggle arms into the country by the terrorists too.
This poses a big question on the level of alertness of the police force at the 487 km long coastline of the state.
A recent report published in the Orissa POST following ground study of the marine police stations has also highlighted the glaring loopholes in the marine policing in the state. The police stations have been grappling with poor infrastructure and untrained staff. The marine police stations have staff strength of around 10 to 12 personnel against the sanctioned strength of around 80.
Similarly, an RTI reply also revealed that no training has been imparted to the Odisha Police personnel by the Coast Guard from 2015 to 2018. Most importantly, due to unavailability of jetties at several places and availability of jetties in dilapidated condition make it hard to use interceptor boats as well. As a result, the officers rarely patrol the coast.
SK Raja could have been arrested much earlier if proper patrolling was done on the coast.
Similarly, as a lot of fishermen yet to get the promised biometric card, it is difficult for the sleuths to differentiate the fishermen of the state from the any wrong-doer.
Meanwhile, DGP BK Sharma, during a meeting with the senior cops from all the districts of the state, had instructed to give special focus on coastal security. He asked the officials to pay visits to marine police stations and take steps to address all the shortcomings like infrastructure and staff shortage.
However, despite the lapse of around three weeks to the meeting, no action has been taken yet on the ground in this regard, revealed a senior police officer at the marine police station.