In a bid to provide a boost to India's coastline security, the Ministry of Home Affairs has charted a plan to form a new armed force - Central Marine Police Force - and will send the final proposal to the cabinet this month for approval, a source in the MHA said. The proposal to draw up the Marine Force was made in 2016, however, the recent threats to the Indian coastline by Pakistan-based terrorist groups prompted the Intelligence agencies to force the Home ministry to speed up the process. A coastal security phase is already in place since its implementation in 2005 under which 200 coastal police stations are operational . 204 boats, 30 jetties, 284 four-wheelers, 554 two-A wheelers, 97 check-posts, 58 out-posts, and 30 barracks have been allotted to protect the Indian coastline. Currently, A three-tier coastal security ring comprising of State Coastal Police, Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Indian Navy are responsible to defend India's coastline.

Source: dna October 19, 2019 16:07 UTC