Chennai’s Marina Beach still off limits; police on 24×7 vigil – Times of India

CHENNAI: The last time visitors stepped on the expansive sands of the Marina Beach was March 20. The beach has been off-limits to the public since then. All the seven entries from Kamarajar Salai remain barricaded, and areguarded night-and-day by a posse of about 50 cops, besides patrol teams and CCTV surveillance.
Expert committees, including the one headed by former RBI governor C Rangarajan, have repeatedly batted for total restoration of normality and reopening of all public utilities. Needless to say, it includes the city’s famed beaches as well. However, beaches, as also cinema theatres, are yet to figure in lockdown exit norms of the state government.
Therefore, police assiduously block the sands, chase away stray visitors and fine violators. On Monday alone, 80 people were fined for ‘entering’ the beach violating the ban. Though police claim these restrictions are part of the Covid-19 measures, sources told TOI they are careful not to let repeat of the Jallikkattu-type protest by allowing people to gather on the sands. Citing passage of several contentious laws by the Centre, and the consequent protests, intelligence agencies have tipped the state government about similar protests on the Marina, they said.
Only the main stretch between Light House and the memorial area has been blocked, said an officer, pointing out that there are no restrictions for people to use the beach off Loop Road to Srinivasapuram at Foreshore Estate. “People in Nochikuppam and in the nearby slum clearance board complex are allowed to access the beach and roam, as usual,” he said.
As for the remaining stretch which witnessed the 15-day Jallikattu protest, binocular-wielding policemen are watching everyone crossing the stretch. “Patrol teams have been mandated to tip off the beat cops by whistle or through wireless, if they notice any suspicious movements of people on the beach,” said a senior officer.
Apart from this, police are scanning CCTV images captured between the Gandhi statue point and Kannagi statue. “There are some gray areas in between these two outposts, so we have stationed a police van fitted with CCTV dome cameras,” said another officer. Of course, all these do not deter compulsive beach-goers who manage to dash across the sands and wade into waves, before running away before they are caught by the police.