Port Blair, Nov 19: In a classic Multi-Agency Coordinated Anti–Poaching Operation, which lasted for 03 days the Security Forces successfully apprehended one Myanmarese poaching boat on 16 Nov 12 from creek area off Makachud village of the Little Nicobar Island. A well coordinated efforts by various agencies viz Coast Guard, Police, DSS vessel MV Strait Island and the Local Administration, in providing all the required support towards Anti-Poaching operation that lead to successful apprehension of the boat.
The suspicious boat was initially sighted by the Coast Guard Dornier on surveillance of Southern Group of Islands (SGI) at 1050 hrs on 15 Nov 12, 08 nautical miles west of Little Nicobar Island with 10 to 12 crew on board and heading towards the northerly direction. On receipt of the information, the Coast Guard District Headquarters No.10 (NI), alerted the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police, Nicobar district for launching Anti-Poaching operation for apprehending the boat along with crew. The Police team was immediately pressed into action and Assistant Commissioner, Campbell Bay provided DSS vessel MV Strait Island positioned at Campbell Bay for the operation. However, the DSS vessel could not venture into sea on 15 Nov 12 due to inclement weather.
On 16 Nov 12 MV Strait Island was sailed with Police team embarked and Coast Guard Dornier was re-launched from Campbell Bay for Sea-Air coordinated operation. The CG Dornier re-located the unmanned boat beached in the creeks off Little Nicobar and vectored MV Strait Island to the position of the suspicious boat. Since, the boat was beached in the shallow waters, Police team was disembarked from the DSS vessel off Makachud village in a boat. A local dinghy was promptly arranged for the operation and the police team successfully apprehended the suspicious boat.
A combing operation of nearby forest area was launched in search of absconding poachers on the basis of foot print and food articles dropped by the poachers till midnight of 16 Nov 12. However, operation was temporarily adjourned view inclement weather and heavy rains and same will be resumed on improvement of the weather. Thereafter, apprehended boat was safely brought to Campbell Bay on 17 Nov 12 for further actions.
