Hummingbird News Desk
NEW DELHI, 18 AUG: A crew-less speed-boat with some sophisticated weapons – adrift in the Arabian sea for 52 days – washed ashore at Harihareshwar Beach in Raigad coastal district today, causing alarm bells to be sounded, a day ahead of the crowded ‘dahi-handi’ celebrations.
Chief minister Eknath Shinde promptly ordered a probe into this matter while Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fandavis has tentatively ruled out any terror angle.
Fandavis said, “There is no confirmation of any terror angle. The boat has just drifted here. We are not ruling out anything, investigating all aspects. Police have been asked to be on high alert.” He said three AK 47 rifles were found on the boat and the boat in a half-broken condition came towards Kokan coast due to high tide. Central agencies have been informed and no possibilities of any consequences would be taken lightly.
Meanwhile, security has been tightened in Maharashtra’s Raigad district and nearby areas. The police reportedly found an unidentified boat with three AK-47 rifles and bullets at Harihareshwar Beach and a lifeboat at Bharadkhol in Raigad district. Some locals spotted the boat, having no crew member, in Shrivardhan area, located more than 190 km from Mumbai, and alerted security agencies.
The incident revived the chilling memories of the 1993 Mumbai serial terror strikes when huge quantities of arms, ammunition and explosives had been surreptitiously off-loaded at certain small ports or beaches on the Raigad coast.
The Maharashtra Deputy CM further noted that the boat named ‘Lady Han’ belongs to a lady Australian citizen and the boat’s engine broke out in the sea, people were rescued by a Korean boat. Her husband James Harbert is the captain. “It has now reached Harihareshwar beach. Keeping in mind the coming festive season, police & administration have been instructed to be prepared,” he said.
Raigad Superintendent of Police Ashok Dudhe and other senior officials have rushed to the spot and searched the boat. According to police officials, the crew members of this boat had been rescued in June this year near the Oman coast. The police said the boat came floating to the Raigad coast.
The 16-meter boat was on way to Europe via Muscat when it developed engine trouble on June 26. Around 1 pm that day, the boat’s crew were rescued.
Tags: #AK47 #DevendraFadnavis #MumbaiTerror #Raigad #Gun #Rifles #News #India #Terrorism #Bullets #Maharashtra
