Gandhinagar, August 24 (HS): In a significant security operation along the India–Pakistan border, the Border Security Force (BSF) on Saturday afternoon intercepted a boat in the sensitive Kori Creek area of Kutch and apprehended 15 Pakistani nationals on board. Officials said fishermen have been caught in this creek region after a long gap, making the scale of this arrest noteworthy.

According to sources, around noon a suspicious boat was spotted near Bibi Ka Kuan, at the northern edge of Kori Creek, opposite Koteshwar. Acting swiftly, BSF troops launched a coordinated operation, cordoned off the vessel, and took 15 Pakistanis into custody.

By late evening, all detainees were shifted to Koteshwar for interrogation. While they appear to be fishermen at first glance, security agencies are probing how such a large group managed to infiltrate deep inside Indian waters.

The operation involved joint efforts of BSF’s 68th and 176th Battalions along with intelligence wing ‘G Branch’. Officials confirmed the Pakistani boat had penetrated nearly five kilometers inside Indian territory from Lakhpat before it was intercepted and seized.

Following the arrests, BSF has stepped up combing operations across the vulnerable creek zone. Notably, the fishing season is virtually closed and rough sea conditions prevail due to stormy weather—factors security officials believe were exploited by the intruders to slip through coastal patrols.

The incident has raised serious concerns for border agencies, as the Kori Creek–Devaria Creek belt remains among the most strategically sensitive and volatile points along the India–Pakistan frontier.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar