Coast Guard ups vigil along Lakshadweep

Coast Guard ups vigil along Lakshadweep
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

MUMBAI, FEBRUARY 15: Patrolling has been further intensified after four Pakistani vessels, suspected to be having Inter Service Intelligence links, were apprehended off the highly sensitive Lakshadweep coast on Sunday afternoon.

Coast Guard chief staff officer A K Verma confirmed that four offshore patrol vessels have been positioned south of Karwar after the Pakistani ships were nabbed. Two Dornier aircraft have been stationed at Cochin to carry out aerial surveillance in the area, Verma added.

According to sources, the four vessels with a compliment of 49 Pakistani crew members were intercepted by Coast Guard ship Vigraha after a hot chase at 1139 North and 7105 East latitude off the Chheetlal Island around 2 pm on February 13.

The vessels have been identified as Awari, Al Saiyad, Al Abid and Al Fida. The names of the masters of the vessels, suspected to be ISI agents, have been given as Yusuf, Isha, Imam Bakshi and Wahid.

Prelimnary investigations have revealed that the four vessels hadsailed out of Karachi harbour in the last week of January and sailed more than 1,300 nautical miles to reach Lakshadweep Island on February 12. The Pakistani ships were intercepted when they turned around with large stocks of food and bunker fuel.

Meanwhile, Coast Guard officers said that the four Pakistani vessels have been diverted to Goa instead of Mumbai. The ships are likely to be escorted into Vasco-da-Gama harbour around 6 pm on Wednesday or on the following morning, officers informed.

The Pakistanis, who are suspected to be ISI agents, will be handed over to the local police after they are interrogated by officers of the Intelligence Bureau and Research and Analysis Wing sleuths.