Indian Coast Guard intercepted a suspicious Pakistani vessel with explosives along the maritime border off Gujarat coast on the intervening night of December 31 and January 1 but before the security officials could board the boat, it was set on fire by its occupants setting off explosions and finally sank.
The Pakistani vessel with four people onboard was chased by the Coast Guard ship but it did not stop despite repeated warnings from the Indian side which also fired a few warning shots.
Even as Coast Guard officials warned the boat to stop while chasing it for almost one hour, it was set on fire by its occupants and exploded.
The incident took place almost 365 kms off Gujarat's Porbandar coast and once again highlights the maritime threats faced by India. All the four people on board the boat are believed to have died in the explosion and subsequent sinking of the vessel.
Officials say they wanted to apprehend the people and interrogate them as there were inputs that a fishing vessel would sail from Karachi in Pakistan on a reconnaissance mission along the Indian maritime border.
According to security officials an intelligence based midnight operation was conducted on the intervening night of December 31 and January 1 by the Coast Guard ships and aircraft to intercept the fishing boat approximately 365 km from Porbandar.
As per intelligence inputs received on December 31, a fishing boat from Keti Bunder near Karachi was planning some illicit transaction in Arabian Sea.
Based on the input, a 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 December 31 in position 365 km West-South West of Porbandar.
The 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 January 1. Coast Guard ships and aircraft are continuing operations in area to search for any possible survivor.
Coast Guard and other security agencies are maintaining high vigil in maritime and coastal areas since last couple of months due to several inputs on threat from the sea.
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