Ahmedabad: In a daring operation, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) rescued seven Indian fishermen who had been apprehended by the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) near the India-Pakistan Maritime Boundary off Gujarat’s coast.
The incident occurred on Sunday when the ICG received a distress signal from a fishing boat operating close to the No-Fishing Zone (NFZ). “At approximately 3:30 PM, an Indian fishing boat reported that another vessel, Kal Bhairav, had been intercepted by a PMSA ship, leading to the capture of its seven crew members,” stated an ICG release.
Swift Action by the Coast Guard
The ICG immediately dispatched a patrol ship to the location near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). Despite resistance from the PMSA vessel, the Coast Guard successfully intercepted it and secured the release of the fishermen.
“The fishermen were safely retrieved and found to be in stable medical condition,” the release noted. However, the fishing boat Kal Bhairav sustained significant damage and sank during the incident.
Joint Investigation Underway
The rescued fishermen were brought back to Okha harbor on Monday. A joint investigation involving the Coast Guard, Gujarat police, intelligence agencies, and the fisheries department is currently examining the events leading to the confrontation, the damage to the Indian vessel, and the rescue operation.
