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Regular-article-logo Thursday, 17 July 2025

Coast vigil beefed up

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MANOJ KAR Published 24.10.11, 12:00 AM

Paradip, Oct. 23: A day after the seizure of a Bangladeshi vessel and arrest of 16 crew members, the Coast Guard have stepped up vigil on coastal waters.

“After yesterday’s intrusion of the vessel, coastal security measures have been further beefed up. The sea patrol has been intensified along the Orissa coast with round-the-clock deployment of two coast guard ships,” said Ashutosh Behera, commandant, Paradip Coast Guard.

But, for timely information from the local fishermen community, it would have been an uphill task to intercept the foreign vessel. The foreign crews would have managed to escape, as the Coast Guard ships were on patrol vigil about 90 nautical miles from the infiltration zone, said officials.

The Bangladeshi vessel, with 16 crew members, was brought back to Paradip. The arrested foreign nationals are being interrogated by Coast Guard personnel. The immigration and customs authorities are also verifying the records and documents to ascertain whether the vessel was armed with required sea voyage permit as per the International Maritime Act.

“The antecedents of the arrested forest nationals are being thoroughly cross-checked. It is being investigated whether their infiltration was linked to any form of subversive ploy or not,” said Yogesh Datta, commandant, Paradip Coast Guard, while refusing to divulge further details. “The Coast Guard is yet to hand them over to Paradip marine police. Once the Coast Guard personnel lodge an FIR and hand over the crews, the marine police would conduct separate inquiry under the Maritime Zone of India Act,” said Shantau Kumar Das, nodal officer, coastal security wing of Orissa police.

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

In August last, two Sri Lankan fishing vessels were intercepted off Paradip coast by Coast Guard patrol with 21 citizens of the island nation being taken into custody.

Earlier, in October 2009, six Sri Lankan fishermen were arrested for commission of similar sea route infiltration offence. The intruders were convicted and had undergone prison term after which they were deported to their home country earlier this year, said marine police officials.

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