IG coastal security appointed to curb 26/11-like attacks

With a need felt for focused attention on securing Maharashtra's 720-km coastline in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai attack, a dedicated post of Inspector General of Police (coastal security) was created recently by the state government and IPS officer Surya Prakash Gupta has been given charge of the new job.

At a conference of Chief Ministers on internal security held in New Delhi and chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on February 1, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan announced a slew of measures initiated to strengthen state coastal security post-26/11. Chavan announced that a post of IG coastal security had been created for "better coordination and control of coastal police stations".

"The post of IG coastal security was created around a month ago and it has been filled by S P Gupta," said Maharashtra's new Director General of Police, Ajit Parasnis.

Prior to the creation of the post, the chief of the State Intelligence Department, K L Prasad, who is also the nodal officer between Centre and state for coastal security, was handling all related issues.

According to a top Maharashtra Police officer who did not wish to be named, since Prasad also had to deal with the constant pressures of intelligence gathering, analysis and dissemination, the state government felt the need for creating the new post so that coastal security would be given "undivided attention".

"Gupta was initially IG security, which was a vague posting that included VIP security, security of vital installations, general security, and other briefs. However, later B K Singh was appointed to a newly defined post of IG special security (VIP). Gupta was then made IG coastal security after the meeting in New Delhi," said the officer.

"Gupta will now be responsible for closely monitoring all affairs pertaining to coastal security, such as patrolling, liaising with the Navy and Coast Guard and matters of procurement of new vessels and equipment. He will also work closely with IG Konkan range," added the officer.

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