A search by a team of Kolkata police sleuths and subsequent interrogation of the captain and other crew members of the Liberia-registered ship “Aegean Glory” at the Hooghly river channel near Diamond Harbour under South 24 Parganas district revealed “shocking discrepancies” in their statements, a top police official said here.
The captain of the ship who is from Greece, but not identified by the police, was taken to the Radisson Fort resort for questioning after the Kolkata-based agent of the ship had given a declaration to the Kolkata Port Trust authorities that the ship would unload a container cargo and some vehicles.
The police grew suspicious after the agent said he was unaware of the explosives and the crew members made several contradictory statements, sources quoting the police officer said.
After grilling the captain for more than an hour, the police decided to bring the ship to the Kolkata port for a thorough investigation and search.
“We are now waiting for the high tide in the river to enable the pilot to tow the ship to the Kolkata dock,” the official said. The high tide is likely to occur early on Sunday.
The Defence, External Affairs and Home ministries have been informed about the ship, carrying rocket launchers, smoke bombs and anti-aircraft guns besides huge ammunitions, said a Commandant of the Coast Guard which along with the Navy and police personnel has thrown a security ring around the vessel. A top level team comprising defence personnel is likely to inspect the ship for a detail check and investigation on Sunday, the Commandant said. Whether the ship has deliberately changed course is also under investigation.
Hidden ammunitions
The cargo in the ship was loaded at Monrovia port in Liberia, according to the documents shown by the captain to the security personnel. The ship sailed to Cox Bazar port in Chittagong to unload some cars before coming to India. The vessel’s next port of call was Karachi. However, the sophisticated arsenal and ammunitions were believed to have been hidden under the declaration of normal cargo.
West Bengal Director General of Police Bhupinder Singh described the incident as “alarming” and said it was surprising that why a Pakistani-bound vessel was passing through Indian waters and that too without necessary papers.
DH News Service