The Indian Coast Guard has detained an Iranian fishing vessel with six Indian crew off the coast of Kerala, following a coordinated sea-air operation. The crew alleged that the Iranian sponsor of the vessel mistreated them, deprived them of basic living conditions, and confiscated their passports. Initial investigation revealed that the owner of the boat was an Iranian national who had contracted the Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu.
The swift operation involved ICG ships and aircraft intercepting the boat, with an ICG team boarding the vessel to investigate any potential anti-national activity. The crew had been issued Iranian visas by the sponsor to fish off the Iran coast, but they decided to escape to India using the same boat. The vessel was brought to Kochi for further investigation.
The crew claimed they were ill-treated and deprived of basic living conditions by the Iranian sponsor, prompting their escape to India. The ministry stated that the crew had decided to escape from Iran to India using the same boat. The investigation revealed that the crew had been contracted by the Iranian sponsor and issued Iranian visas for fishing off the Iran coast.
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