Will take steps to secure release of fishermen: Coast Guard

The coast guard will take steps to secure the release of 106 fishermen, allegedly abducted by Sri Lankan fishermen and reportedly handed over to Lankan authorities, a top official said today.

Coast guard personnel and Sri Lankan Navi officials hold goodwill talks every six months, inspector general SP Sharma, commander Coastguard (East), told reporters.

Sharma, who had also been instrumental in addressing the issue of Tamil Nadu fishermen at international forums when he was director of operations (Coastguard) at Delhi, hoped that the fishermen's problem would be resolved amicably.

The fishermen, belonging to three hamlets in Nagapattinam district, were abducted yesterday.

He said coast guard ships and hovercrafts had now been provided with latest equipment that could accurately monitor the sea and supervise border areas.

About 12,000 Lankan Tamil refugees had come to the country between 2006 and 2009, he said.

A new jetty would come up at Karaikal and Puducherry for use by the coastguard, he said, adding that new ships were being built and electronic equipment was being used to monitor intrusion accurately.

Sharma said the coast guard was giving priority andimportance to its station at Mandapam near Rameswaram in view of its strategic location on the tip of Tamil Nadu.

"As the international maritime border line is close by, the station here is being given all the importance required," said the Commander, who visited the coastguard station here yesterday.

Today he reviewed the preparedness and took stock of the prevailing security situation in the Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar.

Operational capabilities and readiness of the coastguard and security measures were also reviewed and he interacted with officers and personnel of the Coastguard.

He also went around the sea off Rameswaram coast and held talks with the officials at Uchipuli Naval base.