Indian Coast Guard has arrested 25 Sri Lankan fishermen on charges of trespassing and illegal fishing in Indian waters, official sources said on Monday. The fishermen were illegally fishing in five boats in Indian waters 48 nautical miles east of Velankanni when they were arrested on Sunday night, they said.
The Squad seeks to counter China's power assertions in the South China Sea region.
The Gujarat Coast Guard on Tuesday seized a Pakistani fishing boat off the Jakhao coast near Kutch and detained the seven people on board the boat."We have taken into custody a Pakistani fishing boat off the Jakhao coast. There were seven crew members in the boat. We have handed over the boat to the local police for investigation," Coast Guard officials said.The Coast Guard and the Navy have increased patrolling in the Indian waters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Pamban sea bridge, providing rail link between Rameswaram island and the mainland and flagged off the new Rameswaram-Tambaram (Chennai) train service. The bridge is India's first vertical sea-lift bridge, spanning 2.08 kilometers, and includes a 72.5-meter-long vertical lift span that can be raised up to 17 meters, allowing the smooth passage of large ships while ensuring seamless train operations. Built at a cost of over Rs 550 crore, the bridge features stainless steel reinforcement, high-grade paint, and fully welded joints, enhancing durability while reducing maintenance requirements. The bridge is a remarkable blend of tradition and technology.
Indian Coast Guard Commander of Western Region A Rajasekhar said, "Though infiltration through sea is possible, the Coast Guard is patrolling the coastline by air and water to thwart any potential threat."
India showcased its indigenous short-range tactical missile Pralay for the first time at the Republic Day parade on Sunday. The missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and has a range of 150 to 500 kms. The parade featured an array of other indigenously built missiles, surveillance systems, and weapon systems, reflecting India's growing military prowess. The DRDO displayed its latest innovations for national security, including the quick reaction surface-to-air missile, airborne early warning and control system, and drone detect, deter and destroy system.
Well-coordinated operation foils 26/11-like intrusion from sea. Nitin Gokhale reports.
Loshali had contradicted the government's claim that the crew of the intruding Pakistani boat had themselves set the vessel ablaze, leading to an explosion that caused the vessel to sink.
'There had been a proposal to put up a chain of radars across the coast of India and some of it has already been implemented. "You could spend billions of dollars, but the coast could still get breached.'
Coast Guard DIG B K Loshali has been sacked following a Board of Inquiry over his comments that contradicted the government's stand on the sinking of a Pakistan fishing boat last year.
Muthukrishnan was one of the passengers on the IAF flight that has gone missing in the Bay of Bengal.
A Dornier aircraft of the Coast Guard, which flew over the area on Wednesday morning, found a 'thin oil sheen only 300 metres wide.
Sri Lankan navy on Saturday handed over 94 Tamil Nadu fishermen taken into custody by them to the Indian Coast Guard at the International Maritime Boundary Line, police said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that some of the 95 Indian fishermen released by Bangladesh after being arrested for illegally entering its waters were beaten up in jail. Banerjee, who was in Sagar Island to oversee preparations for the upcoming Ganga Sagar Mela, felicitated the fishermen and described them as "victims of circumstances". She said some fishermen were limping and told her they were assaulted in jail with their hands tied, resulting in injuries below the waist and legs. She also announced two schemes to help fishermen in the state: 'Samudra Sathi' and 'Matsajibi Bandhu'.
Eight crew members were rescued from a sinking ship off Beypore in Kerala on Saturday by the Coast Guard.
In a midnight operation in the high seas, a Pakistani fishing boat said to be carrying explosives was intercepted by the Indian Coast Guard off the coast of Gujarat, but the vessel exploded and caught fire before sinking along with 4 occupants.
"Two to three rounds of talks have been held between the two agencies on drawing up a document which is acceptable to both sides", Director General of Coast Guard, Vice Admiral Suresh Mehta.
BARC uses sea water for its two research reactors--Dhruva and Cirus--for cooling purposes. "We have asked BARC not to use sea water for any of their facilities as it is polluted with oil spill from vessels after a collision on Saturday," a senior Coast Guard official told PTI on condition of anonymity.
Coast Guard Deputy Director General K R Nautiyal alleged that the facts presented in the media were not factual
The navy launched a SeaKing chopper at 7:58 am from INS Shikra, Colaba, while CG launched two Chetak helicopters at around 8:40 am for the rescue operation.
The 76th Republic Day Parade concluded with a memorable display of aerial acrobatics, including a stunning victory roll by Rafale aircraft and daring maneuvers by Sukhoi-30 fighter jets. The flypast, featuring over 40 aircraft, captivated the large crowd gathered along Kartavya Path, including President Droupadi Murmu, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The parade showcased the strength and skill of the Indian Air Force and provided a spectacular visual experience for the audience.
The Navy deployed six ships and an unknown number of surveillance aircraft in the rescue mission.
Glimpses from Day 1 at Aero India 2025 at the Yelahanka air base in Bengaluru, India, February 10, 2025.
A survivor of the fatal speedboat-ferry collision in Mumbai has accused the Navy speedboat driver of "showing off" and "being in a playful mood" before the crash that claimed 14 lives. Gautam Gupta, who lost his aunt in the incident, described the driver's reckless maneuvering, which ultimately led to the collision with the ferry carrying passengers to Elephanta Island. Gupta also disputed the Navy's claim of engine failure in the speedboat, saying the driver was seen zig-zagging through the water and appeared to be enjoying the attention before the collision. The incident has sparked outrage and raised questions about safety protocols and accountability.
Eight persons, including the ship's captain, were reported missing after the vessel sank in turbulent seas on Monday.
The overnight operation in the Arabian Sea was carried out in coordination with the Gujarat Anti-terrorism Squad and the Narcotics Control Bureau, it said.
Fifteen ships belonging to both the Coast Guard and the Indian Navy are a part of the search mission, in addition to the advanced Boeing Poseidon P81 surveillance aircraft.
The CG headquarters and station are coming up at a time when the Indian waters off Lakshadweep Islands chain in the Arabian Sea have witnessed increased pirate activity in recent months.
A Coast Guard Dornier surveillance aircraft with three crew members on board went missing on Monday night off the coast of Chennai.
The survivors and the bodies were found near Kendo island of the Sunderbans on Tuesday.
Naval boats have found the body of Johan Mohammad Nisar Ahmed Pathan, taking the toll in the December 18 tragedy to 15.
The vessel is believed to be privately-owned and used by navy, customs and police personnel for joint patrolling.
The nine-member crew cited 'unprecedented storm-like weather conditions' as the reason for the ship to capsize.
Aimed at boosting the Coast Guard's (CG) surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities along India's western coast, a new CG Air Enclave will be made operational on Thursday at Porbandar in Gujarat.
The Coast Guard pressed into service several of its ships along with helicopters off the coast of Mumbai and Gujarat, an official spokesman said. EEZ of a country is the 200-km maritime region from its shores. In Indian waters, the Coast Guard has the responsibility of looking after this region.
Indian Coast Guard on Saturday said suspicions were raised about the identity of crew of the explosives-laden boat intercepted by them, as they did not resemble fishermen from their dressing style and carried no nets.
A survivor has claimed that the incident occurred after the boat hit a rocky patch in the Prongs Reef Lighthouse area in sea, which is the southernmost tip of Mumbai.
Dr Jaishankar is expected to discuss the dates for the fifth Quad leaders' summit in India later this year.
The Coast Guard has secured the release of 72 Indian fishermen from the custody of Pakistan Maritime Security Agency, which had held them in the Arabian sea off Jakhau coast since Friday.
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