Lakshadweep administration wants govt. staff on each fishing boat

Meeting decides to strengthen security measures to monitor boats, crew

At a security review meeting chaired by the adviser to the Administrator of Lakshadweep, a decision was taken to deploy “responsible government servants on board local fishing boats” for intelligence gathering. The move has invited criticism from the islanders who felt that it was meant to trigger tensions. “Fishing is on hold now with the onset of monsoon. But the order is primarily to provoke the fishing community to react,” said an islander on condition of anonymity. The review meeting also decided to strengthen security measures to monitor local fishing boats and crew. Instructions would be issued to intensify checking of motorised vessels reaching the islands. CCTV cameras would be installed at vessel berthing points and at helipads. Passenger and luggage checking should be done at Beypore and New Mangaluru too.