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India intercepts Pakistani boat off coast of western state

Xinhua, April 21, 2015 Adjust font size:

Indian authorities have intercepted a Pakistani boat off the coast of the western state of Gujarat and arrested eight people on board the vessel, sources said Tuesday.

"The boat was intercepted by a joint team of the Indian Navy and Coast Guard off the port city of Porbandar Monday. The men arrested are suspected to be drug smugglers. Some 140 kg of heroin and satellite phones have been seized from their possession," the sources said.

However, the men are being interrogated to ascertain whether they have terror links, the sources said, adding the vessel has been towed to the coast.

India's marine guards claimed more than three months back, it had intercepted a Pakistani boat, carrying terrorists, who blew up the boat to avoid being arrested. That Pakistani fishing boat was also intercepted in the wee hours of Jan. 1, about 365 km off the Porbander coast.

India has bolstered its marine defenses following the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks in which 10 Pakistani militants entered India through sea route from Karachi and carried out a massacre, killing over 170 people. Endi