Port Blair, July 30: In order to prevent misuse of High Frequency Transmitter, GPS Device and Compass, the pilots of Indian Coast Guard’s Helicopter have removed these crucial devices from a cast away Sri Lankan Fishing Boat, which got serious damages after beaching in one of the isolated beaches of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
“As these devices can be misused, Coast Guard Pilots have shown great presence of mind and removed the High Frequency Transmitters, GPS Device and Compass from the fishing boat. These equipments have now been handed over to Police Department,” Inspector General VSR Murthy, Commander of Andaman and Nicobar Coast Guard region told ‘Andaman Sheekha’.
The Sri Lankan Fishing boat, which was missing since last one month, had drifted towards Andaman and beached at Padauk Tikry area of Rut Land Island, South Andaman on 19th July 2013.
All five fishermen were later found from Rut Land Island Forest by Staffs of A & N Forest Department and were then handed over to police.
Indian Coast Guard had sent the helicopter in order to trace out the fishing boat and also to cross check the missing-story of these five fishermen.
“Their statement matched 100 percent with the findings of Coast Guard and it appears that they are genuine fishermen, who had drifted towards Andaman after an engine failure,” IG Murthy added.
Presence of these five suspicious foreign nationals in South Andaman region had initially raised many eyebrows as a few weeks back the Intelligence Bureau had sounded a coastal intrusion threat for A & N Islands, following which security forces were kept in high alert.
According to reports the Immigration Department of Andaman and Nicobar Police has now shifted all five Sri Lankan fishermen to Distress Camp of Port Blair city.
“Once their identity is verified from concerned Ministry, they will be repatriated to their country,” said a senior police official on the condition of anonymity.
