Coast Guard arrests 15 Iranian fishermen for illegally entering Indian waters

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Nov 1, 2019: Indian Coast Guard arrested 15 Iranian fishermen in Mangaluru on October 21, for allegedly entering Indian water limit with their two boats. They were produced before the court today; they have been sent to judicial custody till Nov 14.

The  arrested fishermen were handed over to Mangaluru Police for further investigations, according to release issued here on Friday.

The arrested fishermen have been identified as Azam Ansari, Abubaker Ansari Miya, Moosa Dahadani, Shidh Baachu, Abdul Majeed, Majeed Rahmani, Mohammed Ishaque, Kareem, Mohammed Baloch, Baman, Naseer Badruj, Abdul Baapur, Anwar Baloch, Nabi Baksh and Yusuf Jahani all citizens of Iran.

On October 21 at 2.46pm, two fishing vessels Avidhi and Ishan had entered the Indian waters and were found fishing around 165 nautical miles away from Agatti Island in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. The Coast Guard officers asked the master of the fishing boat to stop, but he refused to do so and went ahead. That was when the boats were intercepted and the master of the fishing vessel and crew members were asked to produce documents. When they acted irresponsibly, and refused to produce necessary documents, especially permission to carry out fishing in the Indian waters, the boats were taken into custody and towed towards the New Mangaluru Port.

Unfortunately, the Avidhi boat developed technical issues and the boat sank near Agatti. The crew members were shifted to fishing boat Ishan and were brought to the Mangaluru Port by the Indian Coast Guard. The SP said the accused are Iran citizens and were illegally operating in the Indian waters. They had no license and had obstructed the Coast Guard from performing their duty in addition to illegally collecting resources from Indian territory. The accused booked under section 3,7, 10, 15(a), 14, 15 (c) Maritime Zone of Indian Act 1981.