New Delhi/ Gandhinagar: The search is on for the wreckage of the suspected Pakistani terror boat which blew itself up following a chase and surveillance has been increased along Gujarat coast, security officials said.
Pakistan however rejected India’s claim and said no boat from Karachi had gone to the open sea.
The dramatic incident — a reminder of the manner Pakistani terrorists sneaked into Mumbai in 2008 — took place on Dec 31-Jan 1 night.
According to Indian defence ministry, the suspicious boat was intercepted by the Coast Guard based on an intelligence input Dec 31, and it was traced in the Arabian Sea, nearly 365 km off Porbandar of Gujarat.
When the boat was approached by a Coast Guard ship, it switched off its light, and tried to escape. Following nearly an hour long chase, the Coast Guard warned the boat to stop for a check.
Four occupants seen onboard then went to a lower deck and set the boat afire. This led to an explosion early morning Jan 1, raising the suspicion of explosives being onboard.
While the defence ministry in a statement Friday had said the boat was “planning some illicit transaction in Arabian Sea”, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in a comment on his official Facebook page called it a “boat carrying suspected terror groups”.
Coast Guard officials said that ships and aircraft are continuing the search operation to recover wreckage or bodies of those who were seen on the boat.
However, an official said that with the sea being atleast 2,000 metres deep in the area, the task is not an easy one.
Talking to reporters in Gandhinagar, Coast Guard Commander (North-West Region) Kuldip Singh Sheoran also said surveillance has been increased. (IANS)
