Govt may set up central marine force to protect coastline

A central marine police force to protect sea, coast, ports and vital institutions along country's 7,517-km long coastline may come up in near future.
The issue was discussed at a meeting where Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis made the suggestion and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh accepted it as a "good idea".
Fadnavis suggested at a meeting of ministers, chief secretaries and directors general of police of coastal states and union territories yesterday in Mumbai that there is a need for a dedicated command structure for marine police and a central police organisation may fill the gap, an official said.

The official, who attended the meeting, said the Home Minister appreciated the suggestion of setting up a central marine police force saying it was a "good idea" and it can be explored.
At least four states have supported the suggestion as most the coastal states have been facing problems in dealing with crimes taking place within 12 nautical miles from shore that comes under the jurisdiction of marine police.
The detailed structure, operations and modalities of the force will be worked out in the coming months.

India has a 7,517-km coastline, which is dotted with 12 major ports and 187 minor or intermediate ports.

India's territorial waters end at 12 nautical miles while exclusive economic zone stretches to 200 nautical miles from the coast.
Indian Navy is responsible for overall maritime security including coastal and offshore security. Indian coasts are guarded by a 3-tier system of State Marine Police, Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy.
Indian Coast Guard looks after the security of country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) that stretches upto 200 nautical miles from the coast.
The official said the Home Ministry is not keen to relinquish the policing responsibility to the Indian Coast Guard, which looks after one million sq km miles and reports to the Defence Ministry.

The Home Ministry has recently empowered 10 police stations located along coastline to register and investigate crimes committed within the country's exclusive economic zone to end the ambiguity over jurisdiction in the wake of Italian marines case.
When the two Italian marines, on board ship MV Enrica Lexie were arrested off Kerala coast for killing two fishermen on February 15, 2012, Italy had challenged it saying the offence was committed in international waters. However, India maintained that the crime had taken place within the EEZ.
Italy even took the case to an international tribunal in The Netherlands, claiming New Delhi has no jurisdiction to pursue the case and only an international court can try the marines. The case continues to be sub-judice though.