A fishing vessel (top) and Bangladeshi infiltrators who were arrested in Paradip last month. (file pictures)

Paradip, Nov. 8: The marine wing of Orissa police has embarked on a drive for enforcement of a set of rules and regulation on sea vessels and trawlers to prevent possible security breach and infiltration.

Sixteen Bangladeshi nationals were arrested on October 24 on charge of sea-route infiltration under Section 15 of the Maritime Zone of India Act, Section 14 of the Foreigners’ Act, sections 26 and 27 of the Arms Act and Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code.

The crews of the foreign vessel were allegedly armed and are said to have fired at local vessels near Balaramgadi fishing hub in Balasore. The motive of the infiltrators’ sea voyage is still shrouded in mystery.

Shantanu Kumar Das, nodal officer of Orissa police’s coastal security wing, said focus was on to intensify vigil on foreign fishing vessels.

The marine police and the marine wing of Orissa fisheries department were directed to carry out seizure of foreign vessels that do not have official permit. Besides, directions were issued to the fisheries personnel to take the crews of vessels, who did not have identity proofs, to task, said Das.

“We have initiated a coordinated effort to curb perceptions of threat to coastal security with help from the Orissa fisheries department and Coast Guard personnel,” he said.

As the coastal districts of Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak and Balasore are vulnerable to sea-route infiltration, it has been made mandatory for all vessels to have licence and permit for sea voyage.

Besides, it has been made mandatory that the local fishermen will have to carry identity cards issued by the Orissa marine fisheries department while undertaking fishing operation. Carrying photo identity card had also been made mandatory for fishermen and crews of vessels from neighbouring coastal states, said the nodal officer of Orissa police’s coastal security wing,

Any violation will invite stringent penal action under the existing law of the land. The offenders would be put under arrest, besides confiscation of their vessels, said Das.

Non-registration of communication gadgets that the vessels carry will also invite penal action.

The Orissa police had asked the marine fisheries department for a detailed list of the number of fishermen living along the coastal villages, said Das.

To step up sea-route vigil as part coastal security plan, two marine police stations had also begun operations in Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district and at Kharinasi in Kendrapara district, he added.