India seizes Pakistani trawler, 7 held

This is the first seizure of a Pakistani vessel by the Coast Guard since the Mumbai Terror attacks which claimed over 180 lives and left nearly 300 wounded.

"We have seized the fishing trawler with seven Pakistani fishermen while it was entering Indian waters near Jakhau," Indian Coast Guard sources said.

The Coast Guard ship intercepted and seized the fishing trawler after it entered Indian waters after noon, they said.

The trawler was sailing towards the Kori area in the Sir Creek when it was apprehended for ‘suspicious’ activities there.

"The trawlers activities were suspicious and once we seized it, we came to know that it was going towards the Kori Creek," a source added.

The Coast Guard officials are interrogating the fishermen and will hand them over to the local police later, they said.

In July 2008, the Border Security Force water wing had apprehended eight Pakistani fishermen in the region.

Soon after the Mumbai terror attacks, the Coast Guard and Navy ships have increased their surveillance and patrolling along the western coast and are checking all merchant vessels and fishing trawlers moving towards Pakistan and the Gulf region.