Port Blair, Dec 31: In a swift joint operation Indian Coast Guard ships ICGS Aruna Asaf Ali, Bhikhaiji Cama and Dornier aircraft nabbed 181 Myanmarese nationals including 03 Women and 02 children off Cinque Island on 31 Dec 12. Initially, snatching of an Indian Fishing Boat Kamala Devi was reported by Asst Director of Fisheries, Port Blair early morning on 31 Dec 12.Immediately, the Coast Guard Regional Headquarters and JOC(CS),HQANC swung into action and a joint operation involving the Police Marine Force, Coast Guard Ships, CG Dornier, Naval Chetak and Forest Department was launched. Coast Guard Ships Aruna Asaf Ali and Bhikhaiji Cama patrolling in the Andaman Sea were diverted and Coast Guard Dornier was launched for sea-air Coordinated Search. One Naval Chetak and PMF boat MV Track were deployed for undertaking close coast search from Port Blair.
After establishing contact with the fishermen onboard FB Kamala Devi by the Joint Operation Centre (CS), HQANC, it was confirmed that the boat along with the crew were safe. The Coast Guard Dornier on search reported sighting of a foreign boat along with large number of personnel onboard anchored off Cinque Island.
The ships were vectored to the position and the boarding teams of ICGS Aruna Asaf Ali and Bhikhaiji Cama apprehended 181 foreign nationals at 1000 hrs on 31 Dec 12. All the personnel were taken on board ICGS Aruna Asaf Ali and boat is being towed in company of PMF boat MV Track, to Port Blair for handing over formalities.
