Pak boat: DIG clarifies, Pakistanis blew the boat up

Updated: Thursday, February 19, 2015, 14:01 [IST]

New Delhi, Feb 18: A clarification regarding a statement on the Pakistan boat issue stating that no statement regarding the ordering of blowing up of the boat was made.

A controversy had kicked off following a newspaper report suggesting that BK Loshali, who is the Chief of Staff (North West Region), Coast Guard, Gandhinagar had said at a function he was the one who ordered the blowing up of the boat.

"Blow the boat off, we do not want to serve them biryani," is what the DIG is alleged to have ordered. [Was Pakistan vessel on a suicide mission?]

The clarification:

In the clarification issued by the DIG, it is stated that the reporting was factually incorrect and the DIG does not subscribe to the text.

It is also stated that the DIG had only pointed out that anti nationals need not be served biryani and should be handled by the law. [Pakistan rejects Indian report on blowing up of boat]

The clarification also reads that the operation was not handled by B K Loshali. It was an operation handled by the Coast Guard Region (NW).

The boat set herself on fire and was not sunk by the coast guard, the clarification also reads.

The confusion:

On Dec 31 2014, the Coast guard had intercepted a boat from Pakistan. They were sure it was on a terror mission to India.

The men on the boat blew the boat up when they were cornered and the Ministry of Defence had certified the same in a release.

However, one newspaper today reported that Loshali had in a function stated that it was he who ordered the blowing up of the boat and it was not sunk by the inmates.

Story not factual:

Coast Guard Deputy DG K R Nautiyal while quoting the letter written by Loshali said that the operation was not handled by the officer.

"We have received a rejoinder from DIG Loshali. The report is not factual. He does not subscribe to the text whatever has been reported. He has not made such a statement," said Nautiyal and also added, "What Loshali said is that anti-national elements do not need to be served biryani."

OneIndia News