Seaport Security Alert: MHA’s Report on Unregulated ICPs Sparks Concerns
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recently updated the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs about actions taken regarding more than 20 seaport immigration check-posts (ICP) that were reportedly operating in violation of rules, posing potential threats to national security. The committee’s concerns were detailed in a report titled ‘Action Taken by Government on the Recommendations/Observations contained in the Two Hundred Forty Second Report of the Committee on Demands for Grants (2023-24) of MHA,’ presented in the Rajya Sabha on December 7.
In March, the committee had initially raised questions about the challenges faced by seaport ICPs in their effective functioning. The subsequent report agreed with the MHA’s assessment that these non-notified ICPs served as entry points for unregulated passengers and crew, posing security risks with implications for national security.
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According to the Ministry, India currently has 31 authorized seaport ICPs. Among them, 10 are directly controlled and managed by the Bureau of Immigration (BoI), MHA, while the remaining ICPs fall under the jurisdiction of state police agencies. In response to the committee’s specific inquiry, the MHA stated that the matter had been addressed with the concerned states and the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW).
As part of the corrective actions, a joint team consisting of MHA/BoI officers, the National Informatics Centre (NIC), and the Gujarat State Home department, along with local police, visited six non-designated seaports in Gujarat, including Hazira, Dahej, Pipavav, Sikka, Navlakhi, and Tuna Old Port (Adani Tuna Port). The assessment led to a request to the State Government for necessary infrastructure based on the evaluation of infrastructure and manpower requirements.
The report highlighted that the Kerala government had already provided the required infrastructure for the Kollam seaport, and the process of designating it as an authorized ICP was under examination. Additionally, the Dhamra seaport in Odisha was officially notified as an authorized ICP on July 11, with the state government committed to providing resources for the BoI to operationalize immigration functions promptly. For the Hemnagar riverport, the West Bengal government and the MoPSW were requested to provide essential infrastructure.
Regarding the remaining 11 non-notified marine seaports, the MHA assured the panel that the matter had been taken up with the respective states and would be pursued until a resolution is reached. However, the specific names of these ports were not disclosed in the report.
In another aspect of the update, the MHA informed the panel about the establishment of a committee tasked with formulating a “model FIR” (First Information Report) specifically for cases related to narcotics. The Ministry expressed the belief that this initiative would enhance the investigation and prosecution procedures in such cases. The joint committee, formed by the Bureau of Police Research and Development in collaboration with the Narcotics Control Bureau, aims to create a distinct FIR format for narcotics cases, different from the current one used for all crimes.
Furthermore, the Ministry shared that the National Forensic Science University (NFSU) had developed a prototype of a digital kit for testing narcotics when seized. The NFSU reported the completion of the prototype for the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) detection kit and pledged to provide kits to the Narcotics Control Bureau (Ahmedabad) soon for testing the kit’s sensitivity and precision. The format of the FIR would be different from the one in use presently for all crimes. The joint committee has been formed by the Bureau of Police Research and Development in collaboration with the Narcotics Control Bureau. The Ministry said that the National Forensic Science University (NFSU) has created the prototype of a digital kit for testing narcotics when they are seized.
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In summary, the MHA’s report to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs outlines measures taken to address the concerns raised about non-compliant seaport ICPs, emphasizing collaboration with state governments and relevant authorities. Additionally, the initiative to create a specialized FIR format for narcotics cases and the development of a detection kit signify proactive steps in enhancing the country’s capabilities in dealing with narcotics-related crimes.
