Five Lankan boats nabbed in Indian waters

Indian Coast Guard, in an air- sea co-ordinated anti-poaching operation, apprehended five Sri Lankan fishing boats with 28 crew onboard, fishing illegally in Indian waters.

Consequent to the apprehension of four Sri Lankan boats by Coast Guard ship Lakshmi Bai on Sunday, Coast Guard Regional headquarters launched an anti-poaching operation.

"Coast Guard ships departed for an area on March 11, while the Coast Guard Dornier carried out anti-poaching sorties. ICGs Varad on Thursday sighted two boats, scattered over a distance of four nautical miles," Command Akshay Jain the Public Relations Officer of Indian Coast Guard in Andaman said.

On investigation by the ship's boarding party, it was revealed that the boat was carrying out tuna and shark fishing. The boat had a HF set and GPS equipment installed, sources said. "Other four fishing boats in the near vicinity, which had started to flee, were apprehended after pursuit, by Coast Guard ships.

The boats were taken under escort with the ship's boarding parties embarked," Commandant Jain added.

The Coast Guard ships with five apprehended Sri Lankan boats and fishermen entered Port Blair on Sunday. Later they were handed over to Police for joint interrogation and further legal action, Jain added.

-Express Buzz