A group of sailors on a fishing boat, believed to be from Pakistan, have reportedly sank their vessel following an interception by the Indian Navy in a high-speed chase in the Arabian Sea near the Indo-Pak maritime boundary.
An Indian Defence Ministry statement noted that all four crew members aboard the vessel hid themselves in the below-deck compartment and set the boat on fire, resulting in a major explosion and fire. All crew members are thought to have died.
The vessel, which was assumed to have been carrying explosives, had been intercepted by the Indian Coast Guard off the Porbander coast.
Several vessels and aircraft from the Indian Coast Guard attempted to capture it near the maritime border with Pakistan, approximately 225 miles from the coastal state of Gujarat, following an intelligence warning.
The statement added: "The coast guard ship warned the fishing boat to stop for further investigation of the crew and cargo. However, the boat increased speed and tried to escape away from the Indian side of maritime boundary.
"The hot pursuit continued for nearly one hour and the coast guard ship managed to stop the fishing boat after firing warning shots."
It is unclear what the vessel was doing in the area.
Image: The Pakistani vessel on fire. Photo: courtesy of Sitanshu Kar.
