WB police detain Pak-bound arms-laden vessel

Kolkata: A Karachi-bound cargo vessel from Bangladesh with military hardware and explosives was today detained by the police at Diamond Harbour in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district, top police officials said.

The Liberian registered ship, S G Zyat, had set sail from Chittangong in Bangladesh and had anti-aircraft guns and rocket launchers, besides a huge quantity of ammunition and smoke bombs in two large containers on board, the police officials said.

“It is a consignment of heavy military supplies meant for a consignee in Karachi. Five tonnes of explosives, a huge quantity of arms and ammunition were found after the police detained the vessel,” Director General of Police Bhupinder Singh told PTI.

Describing the incident as ‘alarming’, he said “it’s surprising why the Pakistani-bound vessel was passing through Indian waters.”

Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) S Karpurakayastha said “the ship was detained on an intelligence tipoff and was carrying anti-aircraft guns and rocket launchers, ammunition and smoke bombs.

He said the Navy, the Coast Guard and the police have cordoned off the ship and were searching it and verifying its documents while the crew was being questioned.
The IGP said senior officers were ascertaining if the consignment was authorised and also whether the ship had changed course, he said.