Mumbai terror attack boat returned to its owner

Mumbai, Feb 17 (ANI): MV Kuber, the fishing trawler that the Indian Government says militants of the Mumbai terror attacks used to reach the metropolis, has been returned to its owner amidst speculations that the boat might sail back to Gujarat.

The trawler has been returned to Vinod Masani after the police cleared him of suspected links with the militants. The MV Kuber will sail back to Porbander.

India claims militants who came from Karachi spent 36 hours on the Kuber after it was hijacked in the Arabian Sea in Pakistani waters and abandoned close to the Mumbai coast. The militants finally reached Mumbai's shores in rubber dinghies.

The journey by militants in the Kuber itself was violent as the boat's Captain Amarsing Solanki was allegedly killed by them. His body with hands tied and throat slit was found on the boat.

Indian investigating authorities termed the recovery of the Kuber as a major breakthrough and provided the first piece of evidence against Pakistan.

Belongings of the gunmen and a satellite phone were recovered from the trawler and find a mention in the dossier sent to Pakistan.

Reports said that owing to procedural delays and problems, the boat is still anchored in trendy Colaba district, one of the targets of the militants.

"I will take the boat. I don't know when it would reach Gujarat. It will take around four days I believe," said Arvind, caretaker of the Kuber boat. (ANI)