Thaindian News

Kochi, Sep 26 (IANS) Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan Saturday called for the central government to take up the security of the coasts.
“The need of the hour is that the centre should take up the security of the coast. If they can’t do it fully, at least 50 per cent should definitely be taken up by them because states just can’t handle that on their own,” Balakrishnan said at a seminar on internal security here.

Kerala has a 590-km coastline on India’s western coast.

“The centre should see that adequate training is provided to the marine police in the state. A marine police academy should be set up in the state,” Balakrishnan added.

The Kerala government decided to rope in the fishermen as informers in order to keep a close eye on suspicious vessels on the sea.

The state has 222 fishing villages with a total of 120,486 families with 602,234 people, of which 35.50 per cent are adult males.

Currently there are 66 coastal police stations, which are ill-equipped with no boats and poor communication equipment.

Balakrishnan said several states in the country face a serious threat from communal organisations and hardcore Left extremists.

He also added that in the state, it has now come to the notice that the criminals have better weapons compared to the police force.