After crashing with trawler in Gulf of Khambhat, crew of Iranian ship quizzed

“When we questioned the captain, Rahbaran Darya, we found that he is Pakistani national and was working with an Iranian company since last few years. Darya has however, denied about colliding with the fishing boat. We have told marine police in Surat not to allow the vessel to sail into the sea till the probe is finished. Meanwhile, the search is still on for the three missing fishermen,” said Jafrabad Marine police sub inspector B G Chetarya while talking to The Indian Express.

The officials also questioned 23 crew members to find out how the incident had occurred. Jafrabad police has lodged a complaint under CrPC 174 following the accidental death of two fishermen and have started investigations.

According to official sources, M V Battis started its journey on October 24 and was headed towards Hazira port to collect iron rolls from an unit belonging to the Essar Group. On the way, the vessel crashed in to the trawler (GJ-14-MM-139) with registration number 829. The trawler owned by one Narsinh Baraiya overturned in the collision throwing eight fishermen in to the high seas. The boat was also badly damaged in the incident.

It was only the next morning that some of the local fishing boats found a damaged overturned boat and three fishermen struggling for life. The local fishermen saved the trio and brought the overturned boat to Jafrabad. The fishermen found two dead bodies in the cabin, following which they informed Jafrabad Marine police.

Chetaria of Jafrabad marine police quizzed the three survivors and got the details of the Iranian vessel. Thereafter the coast guard officials were contacted and the ship’s location was traced to Hazira (Surat). The Jafrabad Marine police instructed their counterparts in Surat to detain the M V Batis ship at Hazira.

The three fishermen who were saved are identified as Ramdas Vansh, Akash Baraiya, and Kanha Baraiya, while the two fishermen who died were identified as Narsinh Solanki and Shyambhai Solanki —both residents of Jafrabad. Kiran Tandel, Kailash Baraiya and Nitin Tandel — all residents of Jafrabad– are those missing. The marine police along with coast guard officials of Jafrabad with the help of local fishermen are still searching for those missing.

“We have forward our investigations report with case papers to Yellow gate police station of Mumbai and they have got powers to investigate into such cases that occur in deep sea,” Chetaria added.