New Delhi, Jan 2 (IANS) A suspicious Pakistani fishing boat exploded into a ball of fire off the Gujarat coast and sank after it was intercepted by the Coast Guard, the government said Friday.
The dramatic incident took place on the night of Dec 31-Jan 1, and the Coast Guard's Deputy Director General K.R. Nautiyal said he suspected "something serious".
He told the media that the boat first tried to get away after a Coast Guard ship asked it to halt for a check of its crew and goods. After six hours, it switched off its lights early Thursday just inside the Indian waters.
The crew members, four of whom were spotted, then went to the deck below. It then blew up, indicating it may have been carrying explosives.
A defence ministry statement said the Pakistani boat, which had set off from near Karachi, Pakistan's southern port city, was planning "some illicit transaction". Its destination was unknown.
The Coast Guard and the navy got into the act following an intelligence tip about a suspicious Pakistani boast.
The boat was spotted by a Dornier aircraft and intercepted by Coast Guard ships near the India-Pakistan maritime boundary, 365 km from Porbandar in Gujarat, shortly before the onset of New Year.
A Coast Guard ship warned the boat to stop for investigation but it 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.
The Coast Guard's Nautiyal said the boat sank at 6.33 a.m. after being cornered in the sea.
"There must be something serious," he said. "Otherwise there was no reason to try to escape... or to switch off the lights."
He said the Coast Guard will connect the dots when the Coast Guard ship which cornered the suspicious boat returns to base.
When the boat exploded and sank, an Indian Dornier was in the air.
Nautiyal called the incident the outcome of "good coordination between the intelligence and forces".
According to military officials, vigil has been increased along India's maritime boundaries for the last two months due to several inputs on possible threats from the sea.
The Indian Navy chief has last month warned of increased threats from the sea.
Ajit Agarkar has been appointed as the new chief selector of the Indian cricket team. He will tak
Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz has made 37-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (M
iPhone maker Apple on Tuesday launched its first Apple Store in India. Apple CEO Tim Cook inaugur
A lawyer, Sudipta Roy, has been arrested for giving a threatening letter to Justice Rajesh Chakra
Rich MP of Russia dies mysteriously in India, Odisha police engaged in investigation
Russian MP Pavel Antov was found dead in a hotel in India. Let us tell you that Antonov was on a
PM Narendra Modi forms economic response task force, calls for 'Janata Curfew'
राष्ट्र को 30 मिनट के संबोधन में, मोदी
PM Modi post-budget webinar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing a post-budget (post-budge
India vs England: Thanks to the fifth double century of the career of captain Joe Root (unbeaten
UK PM Boris Johnson is on a visit to India. During the visit, he announced steps to help New Delh
It has been almost 15 months since Joe Biden became the US President. He is from the same Democra
