Gujarat: Coast Guard, Navy Launch Search After Mysterious Boat Spotted Near Jafrabad

A suspicious unidentified boat sighted approximately 22 nautical miles off the Jafrabad coast in Gujarat has sparked a heightened maritime security alert and set off an extensive aerial and naval search operation involving the Indian Coast Guard, Indian Navy, and marine police. Jafrabad, located on the Arabian Sea in Gujarat’s Amreli district, is considered a vulnerable spot from a coastal security perspective due to its geographic proximity to Pakistan. The blurred maritime boundary and the regular movement of fishing vessels make it difficult to immediately identify threats.

“Patrolling on the western coast has been intensified after the escalation of Indo-Pak military operations. The suspicious boat reported by local fishermen has triggered a high alert along the Saurashtra and Kutch coastal regions. An ICG helicopter and patrol vessel were immediately deployed to track the suspect vessel,” confirmed a senior Indian Coast Guard official.

The unidentified vessel, carrying three individuals without a national flag or fishing gear, was first spotted by vigilant local fishermen during their routine catch at around 10:30 am on Sunday. When approached by the fishermen, the boat failed to respond and fled southwards towards the Valsad-Daman coastline, raising concerns of possible cross-border infiltration.

The alert fishermen, suspicious of the unfamiliar vessel’s unusual behavior, immediately informed their boat owner via wireless communication, who in turn notified the Jafrabad Boat Association. The association promptly reported the matter to the local Indian Coast Guard unit. Kanaiyalal Solanki, president of the Jafrabad Boat Association, confirmed that local fishermen are assisting authorities in the search and are maintaining strict vigilance at sea.

A joint operation was launched involving the Indian Coast Guard, Marine Police, and Indian Navy, covering surveillance across Gujarat’s 1,600-km-long coastline through a three-tier maritime security system to swiftly detect and neutralise any suspicious activity.