Kerala suspect boat: 12 accused sent to judicial custody

Thiruvananthapuram: The 12 accused arrested in connection with the interception of the suspicious foreign fishing boat by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) at the Kerala coast, have been sent to judicial custody till July 17.

Meanwhile, a Joint Investigation team by central and state agencies will commence a probe from Tuesday. The team, comprising personnel from Coast Guard, Navy, Kerala Police and those from central agencies, will be headed by Thiruvananthapuram city police commissioner H R Venkatesh, sources told PTI.

The Coast Guard had on Sunday intercepted the foreign dhow and had brought it to the nearby Vizhinjam coast. The sources said that the statements given by some of the crew members of the boat, which had left Kalat in Iran on May 25, were not  matching. Though the crew stated that the boat was 'drifting', they were not able to tell why they had not called for help.

The officials had also recovered a Pakistan ID card and a satellite communication set from the vessel. Coast Guard said the boat has been handed over to police. Venkatesh said that with the probe being intensified, more details are expected in the coming days.

Police had registered a case under relevant sections of Maritime Zones Act, Suppression of Unlawful Activities against Safety of Maritime Act against the crew.

They were produced before a court in Neyyatinkara this evening. Police said the crew maintained that they are fishermen but it is yet to be established.