Porbandar: Two more suspicious boats intercepted by the Coast Guard

Two days after four men blew their boat after being cornenerd by Indian ships near Porbandar, two more suspicious boats have been intercepted by the Coast Guard reportedly. Two ships have been dispatched to inspect these suspicious boats.

An intelligence-based midnight operation was conducted by the Coast Guard ships and aircraft to intercept the suspect fishing boat, approximately 365 km off Porbander in Gujarat, on the intervening night of December 31 and January 1 after a hot pursuit. As per the intelligence inputs received on December 31, a fishing boat from Keti Bunder near Karachi was planning some illicit transaction in Arabian Sea, a statement by the Defence Minsitry said on Friday.

Also read:http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-pakistani-vessel-carrying-explosives-intercepted-in-gujarat-coast-4-member-crew-sets-itself-on-fire-2048947

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, the statement said. Soon thereafter, the crew hid themselves in below deck compartment and set the boat on fire, which resulted in an explosion and major fire on the boat, it said.

"Four persons were seen on the boat who disregarded all warnings by the Coast Guard ship to stop and cooperate with investigation," the Defence Ministry statement said. "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 Jan 1," the statement said.