Porbandar: Two Maharashtra-registered fishing boats were apprehended for allegedly carrying out light fishing about 25 nautical miles off the Porbandar coast during a joint patrol operation.

According to a complaint filed by Lakhman Bhanu Sadia, Head Constable of Navibandar Marine Police Station, the incident occurred on the afternoon of the 25th when a joint team of Navibandar Marine Police and the Indian Coast Guard was patrolling Gujarat’s territorial waters under Operation ‘Sajag’. The team was deployed on Coast Guard vessel C-445 during the operation.

During the patrol, officials spotted two fishing vessels using bright LED lights in the open sea. The boats were intercepted and escorted to Asmavati Ghat for further inspection. Senior officials were informed and rushed to the spot.

Upon verification, the vessels were identified as ‘Dattakrupa-1’ and ‘Dattajyoti’, both registered in Maharashtra. The skipper of Dattakrupa-1 identified himself as Ramsajeevan Ramkeval Nishad (35), a native of Uttar Pradesh. A search of the boat led to the seizure of 40 halogen LED lights (40 watts each), three underwater lights, and an 80-horsepower generator installed on board.

The driver of the second vessel, Dattajyoti, was identified as Mahendra Gopinath Domekar (43), a resident of Ratnagiri district in Maharashtra. Hydraulic cranes and related equipment were also found on the boat.

Police said the boat operators failed to produce valid permits or documents authorising the use of LED lights for fishing. A case has been registered against Ramsajeevan Nishad, and further investigation is underway. DeshGujarat