Sri Vijaya Puram, November 2: Transnational poaching, maritime narcotics trafficking and security vulnerabilities in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands featured prominently at a high-level seminar on coastal security, where officials discussed operational preparedness, intelligence gathering and coordination among agencies responsible for protecting the strategically significant island territory.
The seminar, held yesterday at the A&N Police Headquarters in Sri Vijaya Puram, brought together senior officials of the A&N Administration, A&N Police and representatives of coastal and maritime security agencies. Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta, National Maritime Security Coordinator (NMSC), and the Director General of Police, A&N Islands, jointly chaired the meeting.
The discussions examined existing coastal security arrangements, operational capabilities and challenges requiring coordinated responses from multiple agencies. The programme also provided an opportunity for stakeholders to assess their respective roles in addressing maritime security concerns across the islands.
The A&N Police presented an overview of coastal policing through a presentation by the Superintendent of Police (PMF)/SMSC, ANI. It outlined the existing security arrangements and the operational role of the A&N Police Marine Force in monitoring and safeguarding the islands’ extensive maritime boundaries.
The Intelligence Bureau subsequently highlighted the strategic security considerations and vulnerabilities of the island territory, while the Indian Coast Guard addressed the threats posed by transnational poaching and maritime narcotics trafficking.
The Department of Fisheries focused on the role of fishermen in coastal surveillance and intelligence gathering through a presentation titled ‘Fishermen as Eyes and Ears of Coastal Security’. It underlined the fishing community’s potential contribution to identifying and reporting suspicious maritime activities.
These presentations were followed by an interactive session in which participating stakeholders discussed maritime security concerns, operational coordination and existing challenges. The exchange focused on the responsibilities of different agencies and the need for stronger coordination in addressing security gaps.
Addressing the gathering, Dasgupta stressed the importance of effective inter-agency coordination, citing the geographical expanse of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a key consideration in strengthening the coastal security framework. He shared guidance on addressing existing gaps and improving coordination among the agencies involved.
He also referred to the A&N Police Marine Force’s in-house repair and maintenance of marine assets, which he had observed during his visit to its facilities, and appreciated the efforts undertaken by the force.
The programme began with a welcome address by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Law and Order)/CID and concluded with the DGP’s valedictory address. The Deputy Superintendent of Police (PMF) delivered the vote of thanks.
