NewKerala.com

Indian Coast Guard Intercepts Pakistani Boat, FIR Filed Under Immigration Act

The Indian Coast Guard intercepted the Pakistani fishing boat Al-Madina with nine crew members inside India's Exclusive Economic Zone during a routine patrol. The boat attempted to flee towards Pakistan but was boarded by ICG personnel. An FIR has been registered under the Immigration and Foreigners Act by Porbandar police after the vessel was handed over to them. This marks the second such interception in weeks, following the apprehension of 11 Pakistani fishermen in December.

Key Points: Pakistani Boat Intercepted in Indian Waters, FIR Filed

  • Pakistani boat intercepted in Indian EEZ
  • Nine crew members onboard
  • FIR filed under Immigration Act
  • Second such incident in recent weeks
  • Boat attempted to flee towards Pakistan
2 min read

FIR filed under Immigration Act after Coast Guard hands over Pakistani boat found operating in Indian waters

Indian Coast Guard intercepts Pakistani fishing boat Al-Madina with 9 crew inside Indian EEZ. FIR registered under Immigration Act in Porbandar.

"The boat had a total of nine crew members. - Dhruval Sutariya"

Porbandar, January 17

An FIR has been filed under the Immigration and Foreigners Act after a Pakistani fishing boat with nine crew members was intercepted by the Indian Coast Guard during a routine maritime patrol off the Gujarat coast, officials said. The vessel, identified as "Al-Madina", was found operating within India's Exclusive Economic Zone and inside the International Maritime Boundary Line.

Speaking to ANI here, Porbandar Deputy Superintendent of Police Dhruval Sutariya said, "On January 14th, while the Indian Coast Guard was on its regular patrol, they intercepted a Pakistani boat named 'Al-Madina' within India's Exclusive Economic Zone, inside the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). The boat had a total of nine crew members."

On Friday, the vessel was formally handed over to the Porbandar police for legal processing. An FIR has been registered under the Immigration and Foreigners Act against the crew members in connection with this incident, as per DSP Sutariya.

As per the ICG, when the boat was challenged, it attempted to flee towards Pakistan but was intercepted, following which ICG personnel boarded the vessel.

Further investigation is underway.

This is the second such incident in recent weeks. In December last year, the Indian Coast Guard apprehended 11 Pakistani fishermen after their boat, Al Wali, was found inside Indian waters near Jakhau without permission.

Defence PRO Gujarat had said the fishermen were intercepted on December 10 inside the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and were brought to Jakhau Port along with the vessel for further investigation. The latest interception comes amid heightened focus on maritime security and international cooperation in the region.

Earlier this week, India and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening maritime cooperation during the 22nd High-Level Meeting of the Indian Coast Guard and the Japan Coast Guard held in New Delhi. The meeting was led by Director General of the Indian Coast Guard Paramesh Sivamani and Admiral Yoshio Saguchi, Commandant of the Japan Coast Guard, who is on a five-day official visit to India from January 13 to 17. The discussions focused on enhancing operational engagement in areas such as Maritime Search and Rescue, Marine Pollution Response, Maritime Law Enforcement and capacity building.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good interception. But we must also consider if these are just poor fishermen who strayed due to lack of GPS or rough seas? The legal process should be fair while protecting our sovereignty.
R
Rohit P
The timing with the Japan Coast Guard meeting is interesting. Shows we are serious about maritime security and building strong partnerships. A strong message to all who test our waters.
S
Sarah B
As someone following maritime issues, this is a standard procedure under international law. The EEZ is sovereign territory. The attempt to flee makes it suspicious. Hope the investigation is thorough.
V
Vikram M
This happens too often. Our fishermen are also arrested by Pakistan sometimes. There should be a proper bilateral mechanism to deal with these incidents humanely. It's often about livelihood, not espionage.
K
Karthik V
Salute to the ICG! 👏 Protecting our 7500 km coastline is no easy task. The article says they attempted to flee – that itself is admission of guilt. No one enters another country's waters by "mistake" and then runs.
N
Nikhil C
While security is paramount, I hope our media doesn't sensationalize this. Let the authorities do their job. Filing an FIR under the Immigration Act is the correct first step. Due process will follow.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50