Eastern Coast of India is exposed once again, this time by The US.
A ship from the US carrying Arms and ammunition has entered the Tuticorin,Tamil Nadu and now US crew numbering 32 have been arrested for illegally entering Indian Port.
First Tamil Fishermen were/are being shot.
China periodically visits the area.
Now US.
Where is the Coast Guard?
India,A Super Power?
Story:
Once a frequent landing spot for Sri Lankan smugglers who traded opium for beedis and tobacco, the Kodikkarai fishing port in Tamil Nadu is today being used for a deadlier purpose — arms trade.
Smugglers are now bringing in arms — with Chinese help — and channelising them into northern Kerala.
The recent detaining of MV Seaman Guard Ohio, the US-owned ship accused of illegally entering Indian waters with a huge cache of weapons, has once again tested India’s fragile coastal security apparatus.
Prior to this, various agencies have been looking at the illegal passage of vessels which are allegedly smuggling in arms from Sri Lanka and ferrying them to Kerala.
A major part of this operation has been traced near Nagapattinam at the end of the Salt Pan area of Kodikkarai fishing port.
Preliminary investigations have found that the smuggling of arms and ammunition is being carried out with the help of Chinese agents who facilitate the mafia and smugglers who are settled in Sri Lanka.
The National Investigation Agency, which is hot on the terror trail in Kerala, is trying to find out if the arms that have reached the state came through this channel. There is a considerable amount of weapons that have been stocked up in northern Kerala, especially at Udumalapet and the Karur forest areas.
At first, the NIA believed that it was Pakistan which supplied the arms and ammunition, but investigations showed that the route was too long and risky. Today, the Chinese angle appears more plausible.
Central intelligence agencies tell rediff.com that over the past few years there has been a considerable increase in the number of Chinese settlements in southern India. Across Tamil Nadu, especially in the rural areas, there are approximately 170 Chinese who have taken up odd jobs.
An intelligence report states that the Chinese are trying to set up a base in southern India and would look to attack India through this part of the country. There are several elements in Kerala and parts of Tamil Nadu who are more than willing to help stock these arms and ammunition and the agents either pay them in kind or cash.”
TUTICORIN: In an early morning operation, all the 35 members on board the US ship Seaman Guard Ohio, a floating armoury, were arrested by sleuths of Tamil Nadu’s Q branch, a state intelligence wing, on Friday.
A team of officials led by Q branch SP Bhavaneeswari and Tuticorin SP M Durai entered the vessel, docked in the V O Chidambaranar port since October 12, and arrested the ten crew members and 25 security guards. Thirty three of the men were taken to Muthayapuram police station in Tuticorin where they were interrogated while two of the arrested were left on board the ship to carry out maintenance work.
As many as 31 assault rifles and more than 5000 rounds of ammunition in the ship were confiscated. The passports of the arrested men as well as one of their agents in Tuticorin were also confiscated. Sources in Q branch said measures were being taken to produce the arrested before a court and remand them.
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