Indian Coast Guard apprehends Pakistani boat off Gujarat coast, 9 crew members taken in for investigation

Indian Coast Guard Ship Samudra Pavak has apprehended a Pakistani boat at 10:15 am on October 2 off Gujarat Coast.

Coast Guard Ship ‘Samudra Pavak’ apprehended the Pakistani boat having nine crew members on board at around 10.15 AM today off Gujarat coast during patrolling, according to a Defence Minister statement.

Preliminary information indicated the people on board were Pakistani fishermen. However, “the boat and the crew members are being escorted to Porbandar for further investigation,” the release said.

The apprehension of the Pakistani boat comes days after the Indian Army conducted surgical strike across LoC, following which a high alert has been sounded across the land and sea border with the neighbouring country.

Earlier on Friday, the Coast Guard had said that sensitive sea areas off Gujarat coast have been “sanitised” and surveillance enhanced following India’s surgical strike on terror launch pads across the LoC.

The Coast Guard had also advised the fishing community and other stakeholders to maintain enhanced vigil and report any abnormal activity either at sea or in areas close to the coast.