Complaints of shipping firms and guards being harassed by port authorities
To combat piracy, the shipping ministry has issued an order to all Indian ports to allow foreign ships to touch base with their armed guards.
Earlier, there were several complaints of shipping firms and guards being harassed by port authorities and other officials in case fire weapons were found on guards.
Sources said though foreign ships used to get armed guards on board, they either used to drop their weapons in the sea or hid them in their vessels before entering into Indian ports. Usually, the ministry of external affairs had to be roped in to settle the disputes.
Now, the ministry’s initiative envisages allowing Indian shipping firms to deploy armed security guards in vessels passing through the piracy-infested zone on high seas. The ministry is considering deployment of armed guards on board to reduce chances of pirates taking over the vessels.
“If we wait for an amendment to the Private Security Guards Act by the home ministry, there would be much delay. So to avoid procedural hurdles, we will soon issue the order specifying the parameter for security agencies, who could supply trained guards. Ex-armymen are likely to be preferred for the job,” a senior official said.
He said that in all probability, the deployment of armed guards is needed only in critical stretches. “There are several issues since the guards will operate on high seas. We ought to have provisions for secured use and protection of the weapons,” the official added.
The proposed anti-piracy bill by the defence ministry is likely to deal with broader issues, including territorial demarcation on high seas and punishment provisions for the nabbed pirates.
Source: Times of India
