Captain of Pak-bound mystery ship with arms being quizzed
Kolkata: The Karachi-bound cargo vessel from Bangladesh carrying military hardware and explosives was kept cordoned off on Saturday at Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas district with the captain disembarked and taken for questioning.
The captain of the Liberian registered ship, who was not identified, was taken to the Radisson Fort resort for questioning, police officials said.
The Navy and Coast Guard personnel had seized the ship on Friday on an intelligence tip off. It was anchored at Kalicharanpara.
The police and the Customs were still present on the ship, M V Agean Glory. The name of the ship had been given as S G Zyat on Friday night by the officials.
It had set sail from Chittangong in Bangladesh and had anti-aircraft guns, rocket launchers, five tonne of explosives, besides a huge quantity of ammunition and smoke bombs in two large containers on board.
Director General of Police Bhupinder Singh had described the incident as "alarming" and said it was surprising why the Pakistani-bound vessel was passing through Indian waters.
Sources said the military hardware includes rocket launchers, cartridges, explosives and white phosphorous. Nearly five tonnes of arms and ammunition were found in the containers.
According to a senior Port Trust official, the ship, Agean Glory, had come from Chittagong port in Bangladesh. There was no declaration on
It is not clear why the Pakistan-bound ship was passing through Indian waters. It was intercepted by Coast Guard vessels. Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) S Karpurakayastha said
"the ship was detained on an intelligence tip-off."
After being interrogated, the master of the ship conceded that the vessel was carrying several containers that had high explosives and arms and ammunition.
"Our inspection is still on. A huge cache of arms and ammunition along with explosives for military use have been found in the ship. The port officials and the Bengal police detained the ship and started inspection. The Customs officials were also informed. They are now checking the cargo and examining the documents of the ship," said Bhupinder Singh, DGP.
According to sources, the ship will not be released till the Port Trust authorities get clearance from the Customs department as well as the Union Home Ministry.
State Home Secretary Samar Ghosh said: "A team consisting of senior officials of the Home department and the police has been sent to the spot. They will scrutinise every detail. We have to check what case can be filed against the ship for carrying explosives without giving any declaration to the port authority."
A senior Home department official said, "The matter has been communicated to the Union Home Ministry and the Ministry of External Affairs."
Captain of Pak-bound mystery ship with arms being quizzed - 2 - 2010: Defence & Internal Security Special on MSN India