Pakistan boat: Manohar Parrikar sees terror plot, hails Coast Guard

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Jan 05, 2015: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday reacted over the Pakistan boat incident and complimented the Indian Coast Guard and those involved in the operation for intercepting the rogue vessel in timely and precise manner.

Parrikar said the Indian Coast Guard has done the right job at the right time based on intelligence inputs.

"Indian Coast Guard reacted immediately. The boat was on surveillance for 12 hours and it was intercepted as soon as possible," said Parrikar.

Dismissing claims that the occupants of boat were smugglers, the minister said he would classify them as suspected or possible terrorists since they had committed suicide after being intercepted and added that they were in touch with Pakistani maritime officials, army and international contacts.

"I think they were suspected terrorists as they committed suicide. A normal boat even carrying drugs can surrender," added Parrikar.

He said the boat was neither in a fishing area nor on any busy route preferred by smugglers to sneak in and that their actions indicate that they were there for "some other kind of activity. We are not sure what is that other kind".

His remarks came as questions were being raised on the veracity of claims that a 2008 Mumbai attack-style operation had been foiled. There were also reports claiming that the boat was involved in smuggling.

The Congress has asked the government to come clean on the matter leading to a slugfest with the ruling BJP which accused the former of providing "ammunition to Pakistan" and speaking their language besides playing "petty politics" on terror.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a Defence Ministry event, Parrikar said, "There are speculations but I don’t intend to be part of speculations except saying one very important aspect that the location (where the boat was found) is not a normal route for fishing boat".

A suspected terror bid was foiled by the Coast Guard on New Year’s Eve when officials intercepted a suspicious boat near the Porbandar coast off Guajrat, say reports.

The boat was reportedly carrying four suspected terrorists and had begun its journey from Karachi in Pakistan.

 

Courtesy: Indiatoday