16 on board tanker nabbed in Coast Guard operation
TEAM HERALD
VASCO: The Indian Coast Guard and Marine Police on Friday caught 16 people from Khariwada-Vasco while allegedly stealing oil and scrap material from Pratibha Bheema tanker anchored off Panjim port.
Speaking to Herald, Indian Coast Guard DIG M Baadkar said the Coast Guard on Friday received a call from Captain of Ports Deputy Captain Otavio Rodrigues at about 8.15 am stating that a person was caught on Pratibha Bheema tanker.
“I immediately alerted Coast Guard ship, which reached the site within half hour,” said Baadkar adding, “two officers, 18 coast guards along with PSI Terrence Vaz and 10 coastal policemen formed three teams and entered the tanker where 16 people were caught hiding inside”.
“Both the Indian Coast Guard and Coastal Police were unaware whether the people on board the tanker were possessing any weapons and accordingly with the help of Coast Guard helicopter, I sent another officer and a diver expert in handling weapons,” he added.
“It was a calculated risk the team took, as there were no lights and all the 16 were hiding at different places inside the tanker and all were caught. On interrogation, the accused said they were part of two gangs from Khariwada and were dropped near the tanker in a canoe,” informed Baadkar.
DIG Baadkar said all State security agencies were informed and Commandant Akshay Jain coordinated the entire operation and on reaching Mormugao Port, all the 16 accused were handed over to the Coastal Police.
Speaking to Herald, accused, Raju Golar, who was caught while stealing oil and scrap from the tanker, stated that he is working for one person from Khariwada for a payment of Rs 500 per day. “My employer directed me to go to the tanker and steal the oil and scrap material from the tanker,” alleged Golar.
Accused, Mohamad Hussain and John D’Souza, told Herald that they are working for one person from Chicalim.
According to sources, Pratibha Bheema tanker is completely stripped off and most of the oil from the tanker is stolen. “Most of the fire fighting equipments and other brass items including some metal plates and pipes are also stolen from the tanker,” informed a source.
“There was a stove, match boxes and a live chicken on the tanker which were presumably brought for cooking. All the 16 accused caught on Friday must have been stealing the materials atleast for the last three to four months,” added the source.
Marine engineer and ship surveyor Octavio Rodrigues stated that when the Captain of Ports conducted an inspection in December 2013, they had noticed broken pipes and oil spillage on the deck.
“The stealing must have been going for the last five months and the vessel is not in a position to be moved out on its own as the engines are not functioning,” added Rodrigues.
