Overview
- An Indian Coast Guard ship on night patrol on January 14 sighted the fishing boat inside Indian waters near the notional International Maritime Boundary Line off Gujarat.
- After being challenged for identification, the boat attempted to flee toward Pakistan but was pursued, intercepted, and boarded while still in Indian waters.
- The vessel was identified as Al-Madina with nine crew members, all reported by officials to be Pakistani nationals.
- The crew has been taken into custody, and officials say next steps will follow the thorough rummaging of the boat and questioning of the detainees.
- Authorities framed the interception as part of ongoing maritime law enforcement, noting previous seizures of foreign fishing vessels along India’s western seaboard.