Digha coast where the Bangladeshi vessel was intercepted (file picture)

Paradip/Balasore, Oct. 22: A vessel belonging to Bangladesh, which had sneaked into Indian waters off the Orissa coast near Balasore, was intercepted by the Coast Guard near Digha in Bengal today. Sixteen of its crew members were taken into custody.

Crew members of the Bangla vessel had allegedly fired on Indian fishermen off the Orissa coast in Balasore when they had approached it.

“The vessel was intercepted by the Coast Guard ship, Sarojini Naidu, 17 nautical miles south of Digha at 5.15pm. Sixteen Bangladeshi nationals have been taken into custody,” K.P.S. Raghuvamshi, deputy inspector general of Coast Guard, Paradip, told The Telegraph.

“Immediately after Balasore police informed us, two coast guard ships were alerted. While Coast Guard ship Sarojini Naidu was despatched for the job, another ship deployed in coastal security patrol was diverted towards Balasore,” said Raghuvamshi.

“Besides, a Dornier aircraft from the Coast Guard’s Haldia headquarters was keeping an eye on the intruding vessel from air,” he added.

Sources at the Marine police station at Balaramgadi near Balasore said the vessel was spotted by some local fishermen near Kasafal fishing base in the Bay of Bengal this morning. The Marine police station swung into action as the vessel was spotted close to two defence establishments — the interim test range and the proof and experimental establishment (PXE) at Chandipur.

“As the crew members of trawler Dakhineswari informed us that a few rounds were fired from the Bangladeshi vessel this morning, we alerted the district police and Coast Guard authorities,” said deputy superintendent of police Kailash Chandra Parida.

“Local fishing trawlers and boats first detected the vessel in the sea. As they tried to approach it, its crew members resorted to firing. Our fishermen became apprehensive and alerted us,” said Narendra Bihari Das, president of Balasore Trawlers’ Association.

Balasore superintendent of police Rajesh Kumar said the Coast Guard authorities were alerted as soon as they got the information. “We were informed that the vessel was under close watch of the Coast Guard,” said Kumar.

Two months ago, a wreckage of a Thai vessel was spotted along Gahirmatha coast in Kendrapara district. The wreckage of the foreign fishing vessel is still lying aground.