Pak trawler, laden with fuel, rations, is seized
A Pakistani vessel, Masha Allah, was found eight nautical miles inside Indian waters by the Indian Coast Guard on Saturday afternoon. The Masha Allah had left Port Qasim (close to Karachi) in Pakistan on July 19.
“It is a fishing trawler from Pakistan that we found in Indian waters at 2.30 pm on Saturday. The Indian Coast Guard ship Sangram is bringing the trawler to Okha port in Gujarat. It is expected to reach by 6 am Sunday,” said inspector-general S.P.S. Basra, commander, Coast Guard, western region. Initial investigations revealed the trawler is owned by Noor Mohammed and Mohammed Hussein. While the former is in Pakistan, the latter is commanding the trawler.
Security officials did not rule out the possibility of Pakistan conducting a survey or trial run prior to planning a terrorist attack similar to that of 26/11. “It is only after a joint interrogation is conducted that we will know the motive of the people on board and whether they drifted into Indian waters due to the sea’s choppiness,” said Mr Basra.
According to Coast Guard officers, what raised their suspicion was the amount of rations, the quantity of fuel on board and the fact that it was out on the high seas in adverse weather.
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