400 posts to boost coastal security in 4 UT's

New Delhi, June 1 : The Union Home Ministry has obtained approval for creating 400 posts for coastal security along the country's 7,516-kilometres coastline vulnerable to infiltration by terrorists.

The posts, recently approved by the Finance Ministry, would be created in the four Union Territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Puducherry Daman and Diu and Lakshadweep.

The need to create these posts arose in the wake of latest security concerns, voiced by the intelligence agencies.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands will get the highest number of 186 to beef up coastal security, to prevent infiltration of terrorists and smuggling of arms from across the border in Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Lakshadweep will have 140 such posts followed by 60 in Daman and Diu.

Puducherry has been sanctioned 20 posts.

Earlier, the Union Home Ministry had launched a coastal security scheme over two years ago and sanctioned 73 police stations in nine coastal states and four UT's.

ANI