Mumbai : Three individuals hailing from Kanyakumari were apprehended aboard a Kuwaiti fishing trawler early Tuesday morning by the crew of Chaitrali, a patrol boat belonging to the Yellow Gate police station. The incident unfolded when they were intercepted by coastal police near Prongs Lighthouse, approximately four nautical miles from the Gateway of India, and subsequently escorted to the Colaba police station.
Sanjay Latkar, DCP of the Port Zone, disclosed, “The detainees alleged they hailed from Kanyakumari and were employed by a company in Kuwait. They opted to flee due to enduring two years without wages and irregular food provisions, coupled with the confiscation of their passports by their employers. Utilizing a GPS device, they navigated their way to Mumbai, a journey spanning ten days. Our team conducted a thorough check before handing them over to Colaba police.” Latkar added that the trio claimed encountering inspections twice en route to Mumbai.
Identified as Nitso Ditto (31), J Sayyantha Anish (32), and Enfant Vijay Vinay Anthony (32), the individuals were seasoned fishermen who embarked from Kuwait on January 28.
“We are currently interrogating them,” stated a Colaba police officer. “Their limited proficiency in English and Hindi has hindered their ability to provide coherent answers. We’re deliberating on whether further action is warranted. Despite their illegal re-entry, they are essentially victims.”
The incursion of the 30-meter-long Kuwaiti vessel into Mumbai waters highlights a significant oversight by the Navy and Coast Guard, which conduct routine patrols via aircraft, helicopters, and sea vessels. While naval sources asserted they initially intercepted the vessel at Prongs Lighthouse before alerting the police, DCP Latkar maintained it was the police who first halted the vessel and subsequently informed the Navy.
In response to queries, a naval spokesperson declined to acknowledge any lapses on the Navy’s part, urging an investigation by the police. Calls to K Suresh, additional director-general of the Coast Guard West, and inspector-general Bhisham Sharma went unanswered.
Despite consistent assertions by defense forces regarding comprehensive sea surveillance, especially post the 26/11 terror attack, they were unable to explain how the Kuwaiti vessel managed to approach Mumbai undetected from Kuwait. Notably, a similar incident occurred last year when a yacht laden with arms, damaged by adverse weather conditions, was discovered off Raigad district.
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