The Indian Coast Guard took action on Monday by intercepting and detaining an Iranian fishing vessel off the coast of Kerala. The vessel was found to be carrying six Indian fishermen who were working as crew members.
The detained fishermen, hailing from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, were reportedly employed under a contractual agreement by an Iranian sponsor named Syed Saud Ansari. Initial investigations revealed allegations of ill-treatment and lack of basic living conditions by the Iranian sponsor. Additionally, the fishermen claimed that their passports had been confiscated.
According to reports, Ansari had obtained Iranian visas for the fishermen, allowing them to work on his vessel since March 26, 2023. Subsequently, the crew made the decision to flee from Iran to India using the same vessel.
The Indian Coast Guard promptly responded to the situation by deploying ships and helicopters to intercept the Iranian vessel. Upon boarding, a Coast Guard team confirmed the presence of the six fishermen as crew members.
The vessel underwent a thorough inspection to ascertain any potential involvement in anti-national activities. Following the inspection, it was escorted to Kochi for further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the detention and the allegations made by the fishermen.
