Kendrapara: Despite the threat of sea-route infiltration, three marine police stations in the district remain ill-equipped and badly manned.

Even as possible influx of suspected Bangladeshis from Assam looms large in the face of the recently released National Register of Citizens (NRC), the security preparedness to meet with exigencies is left much to be desired with the marine police stations plagued by infrastructure and manpower deficiencies.

The staff and equipment crunch have reduced these stations - located at Jamboo, Talchua and Tantiapala - to mere signpost offices.

The stations in Talchua and Tantiapala do not have speed boats for sea patrol. The inglorious track-record of these stations could be gauged from the fact that not a single case of interception of illegal immigrant has been registered till date.

Union home ministry guidelines say that each marine police station should be equipped with three sea-worthy speed boats for patrolling. But, two of the three marine police stations at Talchua and Tantiapala do not have any such vessels.

Central guidelines also say that each of the marine station should have 108 police and ex-navy personnel for patrol and law-and-order duties. However, the manpower put together in all three police stations stands at 55. The police station at Talchua accounts for seven personnel while Tantiapala marine police station is struggling hard for day-to-day operations with nine personnel.

Things are comparatively better in Jamboo marine station with deployment of 31 police personnel.

The Jamboo marine station has three boats at its disposal for sea patrolling. Incidentally, three speed vessels were shifted to Puri coast during annual rath yatra. The boats are yet to come back to Jamboo.

"It's disconcerting to note that two of the marine police stations are bereft of sea-worthy vessels. Without the vessels, the very concept of coastal security patrol by marine police stations run by Odisha police stands defeated. The marine police wing is a vital component of the coastal security mechanism. But its virtual inexistence puts enormous pressure on us to maintain coastal vigil," said a senior coast guard personnel.

Sub-divisional police officer Rajib Lochan Panda admitted the manpower and infrastructure shortage.

"The higher authorities have been apprised of the staff vacancy and infrastructure deficiency. We hope that the issues will be redressed soon," he said.

Some 3,987 infiltrators - all from Bangladesh - continue to stay in Odisha unlawfully. The highest number of 1,649 Bangladeshi infiltrators has been staying in coastal Kendrapara district, followed by 1,112 in Paradip and Jagatsinghpur each.

Of the 3,987 infiltrators, 1,551 Bangladeshis living in Kendrapara district had been served Quit India deportation notice in 2005. However the deportation move has been kept on hold following Union government's intervention.