Iranian dhow issue: NIA rules out terror link

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which conducted a probe into the Iranian dhow intercepted off Kerala coast last year, has stated that the crew members did not have links with any terror outfit. The agency has filed a charge-sheet in the special court here against the captain under an Act, which deals with illegal fishing by foreign vessels in Indian waters.

NIA sources said a detailed, scientific investigation conducted by it has found that the 12 crew members on the boat – 11 Iranian nationals and a Pakistani citizen – had no links either with a terror outfit or international drug mafia.

“The captain of the vessel has been charged with violating the Maritime Zones of India (Regulation of Fishing by Foreign Vessels) Act-1981. It is an Act to provide for the regulation of fishing by foreign vessels in certain maritime zones of India. No other crew has been chargesheeted in the case,” the sources said.

The charge-sheet was filed before the special NIA court here on March 14. The court will consider the case on Friday, the sources said.

The Iranian dhow, ‘Barooki’, was intercepted by the Coast Guard (CG) and the state police, following intelligence inputs, in July last year off the coast of Alappuzha and brought to Vizhinjam. The crew members were detained by the CG and the police, which recovered a satellite communication set and a Pakistani identity card from the vessel.