The Indian Coast Guard detained 24 Bangladeshi fishermen for illegally entering Indian waters in the Bay of Bengal near West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district. The fishermen were apprehended by a Coast Guard vessel during patrolling early Monday morning. Following preliminary questioning, they were handed over to the Frasergunj Coastal Police Station.
The detained fishermen claimed that they mistakenly entered Indian waters due to dense fog in the area. However, authorities are conducting further investigations to determine the veracity of their statements. The fishermen were unable to provide any identity documents to support their claims.
The fishermen face charges of unauthorized entry into Indian waters and will be presented before a district court on Tuesday. This incident follows previous cases where the Indian Coast Guard has apprehended Bangladeshi fishermen for similar violations in the region. Some have been released, while others are undergoing trial proceedings in the Kakdwip court.
Vigilance has been heightened along the international maritime borders in West Bengal, particularly in South 24 Parganas district, following political unrest in neighboring Bangladesh last year. The Coast Guard and West Bengal’s coastal police are maintaining increased surveillance to prevent such incidents.
