ICG successfully repatriated seven fishermen who had been held hostage by a PMSA vessel near the India-Pakistan Maritime Boundary. The operation took place on Sunday, November 17, after a distress signal was sent by an IFB operating near the No-Fishing Zone.
The distress call has been received around 3:30 PM from an IFB stating that another fishing boat, Kal Bhairav, was intercepted by the PMSA and its seven crew members apprehended, an ICG release said.
Despite trying to retreat, the PMSA vessel was intercepted by the ICG ship, which managed to negotiate the release of the fishermen. The ICG has released a video of this operation showing the ICG ship Agrim chasing the PMSA Nusrat to rescue the fishermen being taken into the Pakistani waters.
Upon retrieval, all seven fishermen were in a stable condition. However, the Indian fishing boat, Kal Bhairav, has been reported damaged and sank during that incident.
On Monday, November 18, the ICG ship landed at Okha Harbour, where the initiation of a joint investigation was made. Circumstances of the incident and the rescue operation are now being examined by the authorities of the ICG, State Police, Intelligence Agencies, and Fisheries departments.
