Korean ship accused of illegal entry

New Delhi, Aug 18: Reports say that the North Korean ship MV Mu San is going to be booked under Indian Maritime Act for its illegal entry into Little Andaman.

It is said that the particular ship carrying 17,000 tonnes of sugar was headed for Iraq. However, Indian Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar's Jul 31 announcement of allowing private firms to import sugar at zero duty prompted the said ship to change its direction.

Since the gazette notification was to be functional from Aug 5 so the ship was asked to slow down and reach only after the order was implemented.

Offloading duty free sugar would have benefited both the ship"s India charter and the captain, who would been rewarded USD 7,000 a day for changing the course of the vessel.

After a six hour chase, the India Coast guard detained MV Mu San after it dropped off the anchor in Hut Bay, Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Aug 6. Initially the vessel refused to respond to the Indian port office, which tried to contact it through channel 16 and at last resorted to open firing.

In a letter sent to Port Blair Police, the Union Home Ministry has demanded explanation of the entire event. The two scientists from the Kalpakam Nuclear Power Station, who are investigating the ship have confirmed that there were no traces of chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear (CRBN) on board.

Sources report that the Union Home Ministry, Defence Ministry and External Affairs Ministry are coordinating with each other to decide on the fate of the vessel.

OneIndia News