PORT BLAIR: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) arrested nearly 60 Bangladeshi migrants from Andaman Sea on Thursday. The migrants were reportedly on their way to Malaysia from Cox Bazaar in Bangladesh.
“They are nearly 60 of them.
Their story is yet to be confirmed,” Inspector General S P Sharma, Andaman and Nicobar Coast Guard (ANC) Commander told to The New Indian Express.
The Coast Guard helicopter first sighted a black coloured boat on Thursday morning, during a regular surveillance off the Rut Land Islands of South Andaman, the ICG sources said.
“Our helicopter winched up one of the migrants for investigations.
According to him, they lost their way and were running short of essential items. But the story has to be verified,” said Commandant Akshya Jain, ANC Public Relations Officer.
The Coast Guard later took the boat into custody. According to sources, at present the ICG boat C140 is towing the Bangladeshi boat towards Port Blair.
As per the initial investigations, there were some Myanmarese people among the detained migrants. They basically belonged to the border area of Bangladesh and Mya nmar. “Everything has to be verified. Once the boat reaches Port Blair, more information will be available,” the Inspector General added.
Last week, the Coast Guard had rescued nearly 102 illegal Bangladeshi migrants off Little Andaman Islands of South Andaman region.
Of this group, another 303 people were feared dead. These 412 illegal migrants were also on their way to Malaysia from Cox Bazaar. They, however, lost way and drifted in a non-mechanised boat for nearly 15 days.