Port Blair, Jan. 6: In a swift joint operation Indian Coast Guard ship ICGS Durgabai Deshmukh, Dornier aircraft and Chetak helicopter nabbed 96 Myanmarese nationals including 15 Women and 18 children off Interview Island on 5th Jan 2013.

During routine surveillance, the Coast Guard Dornier, under the captainancy of Comdt(JG) AK Singhal reported sighting of wooden boat with large number of personnel near Paget Island at 0900 hrs on 5th Jan. The boat was proceeding towards Austin creek to take safe passage. Immediately, the Coast Guard Regional Headquarters pressed into action and a joint operation involving the Police Marine Force, Coast Guard Ships, CG Dornier and CG Chetak was launched.

Whilst, the Coast Guard Dornier maintained in area and continuously provided position update, the Coast Guard Ship Durgabai Deshmukh patrolling in the Andaman Sea was diverted and Coast Guard Chetak was launched for conducting sea-air coordinated operation.

PMF boats were also deployed from Mayabunder and Kishorinagar for undertaking close coast search. Chetak Helicopter under the command of Comdt (JG) R Ramesh vectored CG ship to the position of the suspected boat. The boarding team of ICGS Durgabai Deshmukh under the command of Comdt Atul Joshi apprehended 96 foreign nationals at 1400 hrs on 5th Jan. All the personnel were taken on board. Apprehended boat has been escorted to Diglipur for handing over to local police.