Directly contradicting the government’s position, a Deputy Inspector General of the Coast Guard said Monday that it was the Coast Guard which blew up the Pakistani boat on the night of December 31, 2014. And that he was the one who ordered: “Blow the boat off…We don’t want to serve them biryani…”
Update: Indian Coast Guard DIG does U-turn after explosive statement
Video: The Indian Express Exclusive
This is the first time that the Coast Guard — in remarks that were recorded — has admitted that it destroyed the suspect boat which, the government claimed, had blown itself up under suspicious circumstances.
Statements and remarks by the MoD, Defence Minister and the Coast Guard had said the boat’s crew had set it on fire or were responsible for the explosion that destroyed the boat 365 miles off Porbandar after an hour-long chase by a Coast Guard ship on New Year’s Eve.
The Indian Express had reported that intelligence and naval sources had said that evidence suggested “use of disproportionate force” by the Coast Guard. The sources also said the videotape of the burning boat did not appear to show that explosives were on board.
Full story: I told at night, blow the Pak boat off, we don’t want to serve them biryani: Coast Guard DIG
By Kamal Saiyed