Indian Navy to train Odisha Police on coastal security

The Indian Navy has agreed to impart training to Odisha Police on coastal and maritime security from July this year, an official said. Altogether 50 state police personnel would be trained at INS Chilka in two batches starting from July, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Asit Kumar Tripathy said.

He said the Navy would provide basic training on seamanship, Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) during counter-terrorism operations, tracking illegal trawlers and pirates.

As part of strengthening the coastal security, the state government has set up 18 marine police stations along its 485 km long coastline.

DGP K B Singh said the training would aim at acclimatising the personnel with weather condition on sea, efficient use of radars, identification of friend and enemy boats during patrolling.

"Of the 18 marine police stations in the state, personnel of five such police stations will be shortlisted for the initial phase of training. Export and import of illegal arms and contraband on sea route, infiltration, unauthorised fishing, entry of anti-national elements and securing vital installations along the coast will be emphasised in the training," Singh said.

Meanwhile, the state government has decided that all boats plying through the coast will be put under surveillance.