Kollam: A fibre boat with enough fuel to travel continuously for 24 hours that went missing from the Sakthikulangara fish landing centre in Kollam has put the security agencies on high alert. They are suspecting chances of human trafficking or militant activities using the stolen boat.
Coastal police and Marine enforcement has intensified vigil along the Kollam coast as a fibre fishing boat and eight tanks of fuel went missing from the harbour in the wee hours of Saturday. The search operations initiated to find the missing boat has not been fruitful yet.
A mechanised fishing boat Alphonsamma under the ownership of one Jacob of Poykayil Veedu in Sakthikulangara is missing along with several barrels of fuel including kerosene and petrol.
The incident was first noticed by the fishermen who reached the ‘Oceanic’ ghat in Sakthikulangara by around 4 am on Saturday.
In the preliminary inspection by the Coastal and Sakthikulangara police, it has been found that the perpetrators also tried to steal two other boats and abandoned the attempt midway as these boats were trapped in the sand bed.
“A fibre vessel has gone missing from Sakthikulangara and the agencies are investigating the matter. We are also checking details for similar instances that have taken place in the area. It is a case of theft and no human trafficking has taken place so far. We alerted marine enforcement regarding the theft,” S.T. Biju, Sakthikulangara CI, told DC.
The police conducted vigorous search operations in the sea and the shore, but could not find more evidence of the theft. The police also suspects role of local residents in helping the perpetrators steal the boat that was parked near to the Oceanic ghat adjacent to a canal near residential areas.
The coast guard and marine enforcement with the support of local fishermen are into search operation in the sea.
