In silver jubilee year CSG plans to increase public outreach

The inaugural function of the silver jubilee celebration of Coastal Security Group was held at State police headquarters on Thursday. Director General of Police TK Rajendran released a 'Handbook on coastal security', which is first of this kind compiled, in the presence of ADGP Jayanth Murali (Law & Order) and ADGP K Vanniya Perumal of the CSG.

Tamil Nadu was the first coastal State to form a police force styled as Coastal Security Group, which was commissioned on June 27, 1994, to sanitise the marine space, particularly when the LTTE was active in neighbouring Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu coast. The force was created for policing territorial waters in co-ordination with Central and State agencies against infiltration, intrusion of anti-social elements and other illegal activities.

“To celebrate the silver jubilee, we will be doing a number of interactive initiatives including distribution of pamphlets on activities and achievements of the coastal wing,” a police official noted, adding that the force, during the last 25 years, had created a network of 100 coastal check posts, 42 marine police stations, 12 coastal outposts and has 24 fast interceptor boats. The agency has 24 all-terrain vehicles at its disposal to attend any kind of emergencies on sand dunes and seashores.

The CSG had set up a toll-free number 1093 in 2010 to handle distress calls and also receiving vital information on the coastal security. The number has so far received 2,848 calls which effected rescue of 642 fishermen in 199 fishing boats.

CSG also conduct sea vigil drill to check preparedness in handling possible sea route infiltration and the last one carried out in January showed 84 per cent success rate, the highest ever.