Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 24: In a tightly coordinated maritime crackdown, Indian forces apprehended 15 Pakistani fishermen and seized an engine-fitted country boat inside Indian territorial waters in the Kori Creek area of Gujarat’s Kutch region near the India-Pakistan maritime border.

Acting on precise intelligence from the 68 Battalion of the Border Security Force (BSF), a joint search operation was launched early Saturday by BSF units and the Indian Coast Guard. The mission, near Border Outpost BBK, was led by Ashok Kumar (2IC Ops), with participation from senior BSF officials and support from multiple Fast Patrol Boats (FPBs).

The detained individuals — all from Jaati village in Pakistan’s Sujawal district, Sindh — were found fishing illegally in Indian waters. The fishermen, aged between 20 and 50, were in possession of an engine-fitted country boat and approximately 60 kilograms of freshly caught fish, along with nine large fishing nets, pointing to extensive fishing operations.

Search teams also seized large quantities of supplies — including food rations, water containers, fuel drums, and 400 kilograms of ice — indicating the group was equipped for a prolonged sea expedition. Among the confiscated items were electronic devices such as a mobile phone containing Pakistani SIM cards and a memory card, as well as Rs 200 in Pakistani currency.

The successful operation underscores India’s persistent maritime surveillance and highlights the security challenges along the coastal stretch near the sensitive Kori Creek zone, known for its proximity to the international maritime boundary line.

All individuals and materials seized have been handed over to authorities for further investigation.