The Hindu : Ship used for nefarious acts?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 09, 2002

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National

Ship used for nefarious acts?

By Our Special Correspondent

The Lebanese vessel Al Murtada, found drifting in the Arabian Sea about 170 km. off Ratnagiri last Friday. The Coast Guard personnel found two AK-47 assault rifles on board. — AP

NEW DELHI JULY 8. The Coast Guard fears that the abandoned ship off the western coast was used for clandestine activities such as gun running, drug trafficking and transportation of terrorists. This is the first time a ship of this nature with arms on board had been intercepted.

"Anything is possible. This is not a clean operation. Its presence is very mysterious. Our team is still rummaging and the ship was presumably used for arms trafficking,'' the Coast Guard Director-General, O.P. Bansal, said at a news conference here today. There was nothing on board, except equipment for sailing. The ship was not abandoned because the lives of the sailors were in danger. There was neither evidence of fire nor the ship taking in water although it was tilted slightly to the right side.

There were no lifeboats. Several leads have made its presence on the high seas enigmatic. Investigations showed that the merchant vessel, Al-Murtada, was registered at an obscure African port and its owner and the agent were Libyans. While the owner was untraceable, the latter had proved non-cooperative. The ship's last port of call was in September last and all traces of habitation had been removed. The vessel was in poor shape but was equipped with the latest communications equipment. A sinister touch had been provided by the recovery of two AK-47 rifles with `Allah' and `Yusuf' inscribed in Arabic script.

Vice-Admiral Bansal said the ship was noticed 155 km west of Ratnagiri by mv Meridien Navigator. After its Dorniers failed to get a buzz from Al-Murtada, the Coast Guard sent a ship, Vijaya, whose crew boarded it at midnight despite rough sea and the danger of booby traps.

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