New Delhi, Jan 2 (IANS) A suspicious Pakistani fishing boat intercepted by the Coast Guard and navy in the Arabian sea exploded and sank after its crew set fire to it, the Indian government said Friday.
The boat had set off from Keti Bunder near Karachi and was planning "some illicit transaction" in the Arabian Sea, a defence ministry statement said.
Indian Coast Guard ships and navy aircraft tried to intercept the boat near the India-Pakistan maritime boundary, about 365 km from Porbander in Gujarat, on the night of Dec 31-Jan 1.
A Coast Guard ship warned the boat to stop for investigation of the crew and cargo. But the vessel increased speed and tried to get away.
"(A) hot pursuit continued for nearly one hour, and the Coast Guard ship managed to stop the fishing boat after firing warning shots," the statement said.
"Four persons were seen on the boat who disregarded all warnings by the Coast Guard ship to stop and cooperate with investigation."
The suspicious crew then hid themselves below the deck and set the vessel on fire, resulting in an explosion and a major fire.
"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.
Prabhu opens Lumding-Silchar rail line in Assam
New Delhi, March 27 (IANS) Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu on Friday inaugurated the landmark L
South China Sea security architecture to figure in India-ASEAN dialogue
New Delhi, March 10 (IANS) Amid growing concern over China's territorial assertions in the Sout
Home Ministry gets Rs.62,124 Crore in Budget
New Delhi, Feb 28 (IANS) The union home ministry was Saturday allocated Rs.62,124.52 crore in
The interim government of Bangladesh has demanded the extradition of former PM Sheikh Hasina from
Russian shelling destroyed several houses and killed one person in the city of Kupiansk in Ukrain
A joint platform of 10 central trade unions across the country has announced a 'Bharat Bandh' tod
After banning wheat exports in May, the government has decided to put in place a new approval fra
Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Sunday that the country's civil aviation sec
Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have been summoned on Monday on the ED's notice
President Vladimir Putin's health suddenly deteriorated, and an army of doctors ran
Ever since the war between Russia and Ukraine began, there have been reports of President Vladimi