Port Blair, Aug. 31: The Indian Coast Guard ship Kanaklata Barua apprehended 08 Myanmarese poachers in an anti-poaching operation on 30 Aug 12 off Barren Island. The Coast Guard Dornier on a training sortie under the command of Commandant Sunil Kumar reported suspicious boat off Barren Island at 1130 hrs. On receipt of information, Coast Guard Ship Kanaklata Barua, which was sixty (60 Nm) nautical miles away was immediately pressed into action. The Coast Guard Dornier was re-launched at 1600 hrs on 30 Aug 12 to track the boat. The sea was raging with swell of 3-4 mtrs and winds gusting to 45 kmph. The Coast Guard ship Kanaklata Barua, under the command of Commandant (JG) SC Singh, braved the extremely rough sea conditions and reached datum within four hours.

In a perfect sea-air coordinated operation, the Coast Guard ship finally succeeded in apprehension of 08 Myanmarese poachers at 1800 hrs on 30 Aug 12, from a dilapidated boat. Considering the poor material state of the boat towing was not feasible and hence, all eight Myanmarese poachers were safely taken onboard the Coast Guard ship. The apprehended crew is being brought to Port Blair for handing over to police authorities for further investigation. A communiqué received from the office of Chief Staff Officer (Operation) of Coast Guard Regional Headquarters, Andaman & Nicobar.