Centre to approve elite marine operations battalion for Kerala, says CM Pinarayi Vijayan after meeting Amit Shah

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said the Central government would sanction an elite India Reserve Battalion specialising in marine operations, coastal security and interdiction of contraband on the high seas for Kerala.

Speaking to reporters on Friday after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Thursday, Mr. Vijayan said Kerala’s coastal security was a central talking point in the closed-door discussion, given the State’s 640-km long coastline. 

Mr. Vijayan said Mr. Shah conveyed that the Centre would bear a significant part of the cost of raising the battalion, including training, weapon procurement, and imparting operational readiness. The Centre and other States could also seek the service of the special unit based in Kerala. 

Mr. Vijayan said Mr. Shah promised to consider Kerala’s demand for a regional campus of the Centre for Forensic Science Research and Education. 

He said Mr. Shah also promised to provide a financial assistance of ₹108 crore to upgrade the cyberforensic and cybercrime prevention infrastructure of Kerala’s law enforcement. The meeting also flagged the worrying rise in cybercrimes, including cyberfraud. Mr. Vijayan said women and children were particularly vulnerable to online operations of cybercriminals.

Mr. Vijayan said both leaders discussed the progress Kerala has made in combating Left-wing extremism. 

He said Kerala has not backed down on its demand to have Kannur and Wayanad removed from the list of Left-wing extremism-affected districts. “Kerala has no homegrown extremists. But Kerala shares contiguous forests with neighbouring States (Karnataka and Tamil Nadu). Policing the forests and State borders is imperative for national security. The Centre will financially assist Kerala in upholding the peace in such vulnerable localities”, he said. 

Wayanad relief

Mr. Vijayan said Wayanad relief was not off the Centre’s table. He said he reiterated Kerala’s demand for a relief package of ₹2,221 crore for rehabilitation and reconstruction in Wayanad.

“Kerala needs the amount as a one-time grant and not a Central loan. Mr. Shah heads the committee which decides the criteria for such grants. He promised to consider Kerala’s demand sympathetically. He promised that the matter was under the Centre’s active consideration,” he added.