Successful coordination prevented terror attack: Amit Shah

Thanking the Central government and intelligence and security agencies for successfully thwarting a possible terror attack in the country, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah on Saturday said successful coordination had prevented a possible mishap on New Year.

"I thank the Prime Minister, Government of India, intelligence and security agencies for successfully neutralizing an attempt of terror attack in nation. With successful coordination between our security and intelligence agencies, a mishap has been prevented from taking place on the New Year," Shah told media persons here. 

Earlier on Friday, a possible terror attack was averted when a suspicious fishing boat carrying explosives in the Arabian Sea was intercepted near the India- Pakistan maritime boundary, approximately 365 kilometres away from Porbander.

A statement from the Ministry of Defence said that as per intelligence inputs received on December 31, a fishing boat from Keti Bunder near Karachi was planning some illicit transaction in the Arabian Sea. A coast guard ship warned the suspicious vessel to stop for further investigation of the crew and cargo; however, the boat increased its speed and attempted to flee the maritime boundary.

The coast guards operation continued for nearly one hour and the Coast Guard ship managed to stop the fishing boat after firing warning shots. The four persons on board disregarded warning shots from the Coast Guard and tried to hide themselves in the lower deck of the vessel; thereafter they set the boat on fire, which resulted in an explosion.

Ultimately, the boat burnt and sank in the early hours of January 1, including all the people on board who could not be saved or recovered.