Rabindranath Biswas& John Wilbert
Diglipur, Dec 18: Indian Coast Guard (ICG) apprehended 46 Myanmarese nationals along with their four boats for poaching in Indian waters near West Island, Diglipur, Andaman and Nicobar islands on 15th Dec. 2022.
According to sources, the Myanmarese nationals were engaged in illegal fishing and exploiting marine resources in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
These four Myanmarese fishing vessels were first sighted in suspicious activities by Indian Air Force Dornier Aircraft that was on its regular patrolling and surveillance in Andaman Sea, on 15th Dec. 2022. Then the Air Force instantly passed on the message to the Indian Coast Guard, the source further revealed.
The ICG immediately swung into action with their ships Rajkamal, C145 & C415 and intercepted the fleeing boats and apprehended the 46 Myanmarese nationals along with their four fishing boats indulged in illegal fishing and exploiting marine resources in the EEZ of India. The ICG also recovered equipment like diving compressors, diving cylinders and masks from these poaching boats which they had been carrying for catching sea cucumbers from Indian waters. Then these apprehended poachers were brought to Aerial Bay Jetty, Diglipur by ICGS Rajkamal.
After completion of all codal formalities, the apprehended Myanmarese poachers were handed over to the Diglipur Police by ICG on 16 the Dec. A checklist in respect of the equipment and articles recovered from these poachers was also made, and accordingly, the seized goods were off-loaded from the Myanmarese fishing vessels and then again loaded onto the Police Van by these poachers.
The apprehended 46 Myanmarese poachers were kept in PS Diglipur on 16th Dec. and the following day i.e. on 17/12/2022 early morning, they were taken to Port Blair for handing over to PS CCS for further course of action, the source also added.
