`Problematic areas' around Rameswaram under scanner
	CHENNAI/RAMESWARAM: A high-level team of Coast Guard and State police officers on Tuesday inspected several `problematic areas' along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) off Rameswaram and along the coast. The field meeting studied the routes used by contraband smugglers, fishermen's problems and refugee management issues. It identified landing centres and loopholes in the existing security arrangements and logistics. This follows two high-level meetings in New Delhi and Chennai. "The Coast Guard along with State and Central Government agencies will take steps to check unlawful activities along the coast off Rameswarm," said Inspector-General Rajendra Singh, Commander, Coast Guard, Eastern region, after the inspections. Jagan Seshadri, Additional Director-General of Police and head of the Coastal Security Group; Nanjil Kumaran, ADGP, Intelligence and Sanjeev Kumar, IG (south), took part in the exercise. Asked about coordination among security agencies, he said there was good understanding among the Navy, the Customs, the police, the Narcotics Control Bureau, the Intelligence Bureau and other agencies. The coordination had improved over time. Field meetings such as the one organised by the Coast Guard on Tuesday were intended to help all agencies study closely the ground realities and increase interaction at various levels, said Mr. Singh. A couple of officials who attended the meeting said that the local-level relationship had improved vastly in the recent past, in the context of the volatile situation in Sri Lanka and the consequent flow of refugees across the IMBL. Fast by fishermen In Pamban, hundreds of fishermen observed a token fast protesting against firing by the Sri Lankan Navy on Indian fishermen. Representatives of political parties, fishermen's associations from Rameswaram, Tuticorin, Nagapattinam, Pamban and Thankatchimadam took part, demanding a permanent solution to the long-pending demands. Shops and commercial establishments in the island remained closed. More than 10,000 fishermen refrained from venturing into the sea for the second day on Tuesday demanding that the Government solve the problem of firing by the Sri Lankan Navy. Clarification In Chennai, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said that only if the Centre agrees can the Indo-Sri Lankan joint patrolling become a reality. "The reports that I have given my consent for this is wrong. This is a decision to be taken by the Union Government," he said, adding that Tamil Nadu's point was that the lives of fishermen had to be protected.