Kolkata, 19 January (H.S.) : The Indian Coast Guard on Monday arrested 24 Bangladeshi fishermen for allegedly violating the international maritime boundary and entering Indian territorial waters in the Bay of Bengal off the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. The detained fishermen were later handed over to the coastal wing of the West Bengal Police.

According to a statement issued by the Eastern Command headquarters of the Ministry of Defence on Tuesday morning, a Coast Guard patrol vessel spotted a Bangladeshi fishing trawler inside Indian waters during routine surveillance in the early hours of Monday. The vessel was chased and apprehended within Indian territorial limits. Following preliminary interrogation, the fishermen were handed over to the Frasergunj Coastal Police Station later in the afternoon.

During questioning, the fishermen claimed that they had inadvertently crossed into Indian waters due to dense fog in the region. However, police sources said further investigation is underway to determine whether the intrusion was accidental or carried out with any other intent. The arrested fishermen were also unable to produce any valid identity documents to support their claims.

A district police officer said, “All the accused have been arrested for illegally crossing the international maritime boundary and entering Indian waters without authorization. They will be produced before a district court today (Tuesday).”

In recent months, the Indian Coast Guard has detained more than 100 Bangladeshi fishermen for alleged illegal intrusion into Indian waters. While some of them were later released, trial proceedings against others are currently underway at the Kakdwip court in South 24 Parganas district.

Earlier, on December 18, 35 Bangladeshi fishermen were arrested and two of their trawlers were seized after they were found fishing in Indian waters. On December 15, a Bangladeshi Navy vessel reportedly entered Indian waters and collided with a fishing trawler belonging to fishermen from Kakdwip, also in South 24 Parganas. In that incident, 11 fishermen narrowly escaped with their lives, while five others were reported missing. The sunken trawler was brought to the Moynapara dock in Kakdwip on Monday.

In view of the ongoing political turmoil in neighbouring Bangladesh, surveillance and vigilance by the Indian Coast Guard and the coastal police wing of West Bengal have been intensified along the international maritime borders of the state, particularly in the South 24 Parganas district.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh