A patrolling team of Mumbai Police intercepted a boat from Kuwait in the Arabian Sea on Tuesday evening. The incident reportedly took place near the Gateway of India.
The boat, carrying three individuals, all of whom are Indian nationals, was apprehended by authorities. The detainees have been identified as Antony, Nidiso Dito, and Vijay Antony, natives of Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu. They are currently in police custody at Colaba police station, though no FIR has been filed at this time.
Media reports suggest that the trio, who worked for a fishing company, claimed to have faced torture and exploitation by their employer. Alleging non-payment of dues, salary, and harsh working conditions, they confessed to stealing the boat from its owner. The fishermen further revealed that their passports were confiscated, leaving them with no choice but to resort to stealing their employer's vessel.
"They have been sailing non-stop for 12 days. When we saw them, they hadn't eaten in three to four days as they ran out of ration. We have not found anything suspicious yet, but the boat has been safely taken away near the Taj Hotel," an official told India Today.
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However, the Kuwaiti vessel, 30 metres long, arriving unnoticed in Mumbai is a major lapse on the part of the Navy and Coast Guard, which constantly patrol the seas with aircraft, helicopters, and sea vessels.
