A.V.Ragunathan
Vital industries under security blanket
Photo: C. Venkatachalapathy
Staying alert: Security personnel inspecting the coast in Cuddalore on Wednesday. CUDDALORE: Security has been tightened around the Cuddalore Port as part of Operation Barricade. Though the port is defunct, officials are cautious that no strangers gain surreptitious entry into it.
The operation is being kept as a closely guarded secret. But for the top brass, lower-level officials and personnel of various security agencies have no inkling about its true purport.
Unlike other mock drills , Operation Barricade is being carried out in utmost secrecy.
Guarding the sea route
The idea is to take the officials by surprise though an announcement of “infiltration” of anti-social elements who manage to enter the mainland through the sea route. Superintendent of Police Ashwin M. Kotnis told The Hindu that the entire administrative machinery was involved in the operation. Quick reaction teams were deployed at crucial points to guard vital installations.
Personnel of the Coast Guard, Coastal Security Group, local police, Intelligence Bureau and Port officials were involved in the operation, which is being conducted in all coastal villages of the district.
Coastal Vigilance Committees
Mr. Kotnis said that all 43 Coastal Vigilance Committees had been put on alert and their members told to report immediately to the police the citing of any suspicious movement.
Security personnel were doing the rounds at the Cuddalore Port area, Killai, Reddichavadi and so on.
Eleven additional checkpoints had been created to monitor vehicular movement.
Power generating units in the Neyveli Lignite Corporation and the SIPCOT Industrial Estate were now under security blanket. Mr. Kotnis said that at present there was no security threat. But, the operation would keep the personnel on their toes and hone their skills to deal with exigencies.
However, the personnel were not provided weapons to avoid people from panicking, Mr. Kotnis said.
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