As per intelligence inputs received on 31st December, a fishing boat from Keti Bunder near Karachi was planning some illicit transaction in Arabian Sea. Based on the input, Coast Guard Dornier aircraft undertook sea-air coordinated search and located the suspect fishing boat. Thereafter, the Coast Guard ship on patrol in area was diverted and intercepted the unlit boat at about midnight of 31st December in position 365 km West-South West of Porbandar.
Coast Guard ship warned the fishing boat to stop for further investigation of the crew and cargo; however, the boat increased speed and tried to escape away from the Indian side of maritime boundary. The hot pursuit continued for nearly one hour and the Coast Guard ship managed to stop the fishing boat after firing warning shots. Four persons were seen on the boat who disregarded all warnings by the Coast Guard ship to stop and cooperate with investigation. Soon thereafter, the crew hid themselves in below deck compartment and set the boat on fire, which resulted in explosion and major fire on the boat.
Due to darkness, bad weather and strong winds, the boat and persons on board could not be saved or recovered. The boat burnt and sank in the same position, in early hours of 1st January 2015. Since the boat sank, Coast Guard ships maintained continuous presence in the area for recovery of any survivors, dead bodies or debris from the boat. Coast Guard Dornier aircraft also searched the area, however, no survivors, dead bodies or debris from the boat could be found in the area.
Post interception of the boat on 1st January, 2015, ICG, has been maintaining strong presence in the area, through regular and continuous surface and aerial surveillance, so as to deny any subsequent attempt by adversaries to enter our maritime zones. Coast Guard ships from Gujarat along with Dornier aircraft from Porbandar and Daman have been maintaining regular surveillance in area off Indo-Pak IMBL. Bigger ships from Mumbai also join the operation regularly for force augmentation. In addition, patrolling close to the coast has also been strengthened by deploying Interceptor Boats, Interceptor Crafts and Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs).
This information was given by Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar in a written reply to Shri Rajkumar Dhoot in Rajya Sabha today.
DM/HH/NM
Coast Guard ship warned the fishing boat to stop for further investigation of the crew and cargo; however, the boat increased speed and tried to escape away from the Indian side of maritime boundary. The hot pursuit continued for nearly one hour and the Coast Guard ship managed to stop the fishing boat after firing warning shots. Four persons were seen on the boat who disregarded all warnings by the Coast Guard ship to stop and cooperate with investigation. Soon thereafter, the crew hid themselves in below deck compartment and set the boat on fire, which resulted in explosion and major fire on the boat.
Due to darkness, bad weather and strong winds, the boat and persons on board could not be saved or recovered. The boat burnt and sank in the same position, in early hours of 1st January 2015. Since the boat sank, Coast Guard ships maintained continuous presence in the area for recovery of any survivors, dead bodies or debris from the boat. Coast Guard Dornier aircraft also searched the area, however, no survivors, dead bodies or debris from the boat could be found in the area.
Post interception of the boat on 1st January, 2015, ICG, has been maintaining strong presence in the area, through regular and continuous surface and aerial surveillance, so as to deny any subsequent attempt by adversaries to enter our maritime zones. Coast Guard ships from Gujarat along with Dornier aircraft from Porbandar and Daman have been maintaining regular surveillance in area off Indo-Pak IMBL. Bigger ships from Mumbai also join the operation regularly for force augmentation. In addition, patrolling close to the coast has also been strengthened by deploying Interceptor Boats, Interceptor Crafts and Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs).
This information was given by Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar in a written reply to Shri Rajkumar Dhoot in Rajya Sabha today.
DM/HH/NM
