'Bomb boat' had Navy installations as target, was LeT operated: Reports

Delhi: The boat that was blown up 365 km off Gujarat’s Porbandar port on the intervening night of December 31 and January 1 had Navy installations as target and was Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) operated, as per reports on Tuesday.

Reports also said that the intercept details of the 'terror boat' had revealed that the four men who blew up themselves on the boat were Lashkar operatives and that they were in constant touch with marine officials and Army in Pakistan.

It is also being said that the boat, which purportedly came from Pakistan, took the same route as the 26/11 Mumbai attack terrorists did in 2008.

To be noted is the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due to Porbandar on January 12.

The boat, reportedly carrying explosive from Karachi, blew itself after a Coast Guard vessel followed it and asked to stop.

Moreover, it was also reported that National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) intercepts had confirmed that the men in the boat were carrying sniper rifles and other ammunition.

Later some reports suggested that the boat could have been a case of diesel smugglers, with the Opposition Congress asking government to give proof of the terror ploy.

This resulted in a war of words between the the ruling-BJP led NDA government and the Opposition.

With questions raised over the credibility of the mid-sea operation that suggested a 26/11 like terror strike was averted, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar yesterday had said that all details relating to the sinking of the suspected Pakistani vessel would be released soon.

He said "circumstantial evidence" indicated that the occupants of the vessel were "suspected or possible terrorists" and that they were in touch with Pakistani maritime officials and army, as per PTI.

Parrikar said the people in the boat were in touch with various authorities in Pakistan, the army and its maritime authority.

Parrikar dismissed the contention that the four people on board the boat

were smugglers.

He underlined that the suicidal act of setting the boat on fire by the men on board the boat showed that they were "committed" and indicated suspected terror link.

With Agency inputs