Mangalore: The Indian Coastal Guard and Security Police organized a community interaction meeting on Tuesday (July) advised the local fishermen to be more careful on high seas to report any suspicious movements of eternal fishing vessels to the notice of authorities concerned. Similar meetings were also held at Karwar, Bhatkal, Honnavar and old Bunder already and other would be held at Malpe, to alert coastal security forces, from time to time.
Commandant R.K Sharma of Coastal Guagds headquarters, Panambur described local fishermen as eyes and ears of the two security units. The fishermen are also sensitized on the new dimension of internal security in view of hazards at sea (from) pirates or terrorists) in the aftermath of Mumbai killings by 10 terrorists (26/11). The information provided by regular fishermen is of great value to authorities to check criminals at sea.
Police Inspector Mukund Naik of Coastal security in his comments stated that local fishermen were best to identify foreign vessels or even foreign fishing vessels violating Indian waters at sea. Such suspicious vessels could be seized and their antecedents could be detected with the help of local fishermen, to maintain coastal security.
K.L Arun captain of coastal Guardship Kasturba Gandhi asked fishermen to go in groups while fishing. He also advised them to keep all relevant documents in hand, while going to sea for fishing.