Indian Coast Guard Arrests 12 Crew Members of an Iranian Boat

Local officials in Kerala, southwestern India, have reported that the country's coast guard has seized an Iranian fishing boat and arrested its 12 crew members. According to the Associated Press, a senior police official in Kerala stated that the crew members are being interrogated to investigate potential "smuggling" and "violation of India's national security." The same news agency reported that the seizure of the boat and the arrest of the crew occurred early on Sunday, July 14. The NDTV network in India also stated that investigations are ongoing. Indian officials have not provided further details on the matter. According to this television network, the boat had been under surveillance since Friday. The Press Trust of India reported that coast guard officials discovered a satellite phone and a Pakistani identity document on the boat. Satellite phones are illegal in India, which has tense relations with Pakistan. However, the Hindu newspaper quoted an inspector as saying that the story told by the detainees is "highly suspicious," and despite claiming to be fishermen, the "main purpose and nationality of these individuals remain questionable." According to the Press Trust of India and a statement from the Indian coast guard, the fishing boat had set out on May 25 and may have been carrying "valuable smuggled goods" at sea. No further details have been provided regarding this matter. The city from which the boat set out is referred to as "Kalāt" in Iran, which seems to refer to Kalāt in the Shibkuh region of Hormozgan province, Bandar Lengeh county. Iranian officials and the Foreign Ministry have not yet reacted to the published news.