Indian Coast guard saves 2 fishing boats with 19 aboard from being caught by Pak marines off Gujarat coast

Porbandar: The Indian Coast Guard today saved 2 fishing boats with 19 fishermen aboard from getting caught by Pakistani marine Security Agency near the notional International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).

However another boat with 11 fishermen was caught by the Pak marines and the coast guard was trying to get them released though negotiation.

Defence spokesperson colonel Sombit Ghosh said that Indian Coast Guard vessels averted apprehension of two Indian fishing boats from the grip of Pakistan entities. ICGS ‘Rajratan’ while undertaking the notional International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) patrol got alerted by intercepting a VHF communication. The Pak warship was chasing the Indian Fishing Boats reportedly operating in Pakistan waters.

‘ ICGS Rajratan is a Fast Patrol Vessel based at Porbandar operating in the area for maritime surveillance. It intercepted two Indian Fishing Boats namely Mayshab Maa (GJ-10-MM-3480) and Safina Al Tahiri (GJ-10-MM-1761) both registered at Okha. There were total 19 fishermen onboard. The reports also confirm that PMSA Basol, a Pakistan Maritime Surveillance ship ‘Basol’ has apprehended another IFB Khuda Dost Ka Karam (GJ-10-MM-3250) also registered at Okha with 11 fishermen at the mutually agreed No Fishing Zone (NFZ) about 9 nautical miles from the nearest Indian land and about 36 nautical miles from nearest base port of Jakhau. ICG ship is maintaining constant liaison with their PAK compatriots for the release of this boat as well,’ he said.

DeshGujarat