CG nabs 5 Lankan fishing boats

CHENNAI: During a routine patrol along the Eastern coast on Monday evening, Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Vishwast apprehended five Sri Lankan fishing boats with 25 crew about 47 nautical miles off the Nagapattinam coast. According to a release, five boats – Kavesa Putha, Laksaura, Laksiri-4, Laksiri-1 and Laksiri-2 – were apprehended for violation of sections s 3/10 (fishing without licence) and s 15(c) (failure to produce documents) of Maritime Zones of India Act 1981.  All these boats are equipped with high frequency, GPS and magnetic compass equipment that pose high security risk for the entire coastline, a Coast Guard official noted. Monday’s apprehension is the second such arrest made in the year 2012 by the Indian Coast Guard.