Three fishing vessels in the Maldives' northern seas were stopped by a foreign military. Their military personnel boarded the boats and heavily questioned the crew in a bid to find out the satellite phone numbers of the vessels.
Three fishing vessels in the Maldives' northern seas were stopped by a foreign military, believed to be Indian Coastguard or Navy by Yellowfin Tuna Fisherman's Union (Bodu Kanneli Masveringe Union).
The union's President Hussain Nasheed told Mihaaru News that the foreign military personnel boarded the boats and attempted to find out the satellite phone numbers of the vessels.
The three vessels stopped by the foreign coast guard are 'Asuruma 3', 'Neru 7', and 'Maahoara 3'.
Asuruma 3 was stopped at around 14:30 hrs this afternoon. At the time, there were 18 crew onboard the vessel.
"The Indian Coastguard approached the vessel while it was within the boundaries of Maldives' ocean territory," he affirmed.
Nasheed quoted the vessel's captain as saying that the Indian Coastguard first sent a drone to approach the vessel. He said that there were two Indian Coast Guard vessels in the vicinity, and one of it approached the boat only after first making observations through the aid of the drone.
Six Indian navy officers are said to have boarded Asuruma 3.
"According to the Captain, these officers kept enquiring about the number of the satellite phone. The vessel was detained after they refused to reveal the number. The Captain was in communication with the Maldives' Coastguard as well. They have no authority to ask for the satellite phone number, right? That's why the number was not given," the official said.
Indian military has been known to investigate when they receive satellite phone signals from vessels as some brands of satellite phones are banned from being carried into Indian territory.
The official said that upon refusal to provide the satellite phone number, Indian military personnel proceeded to intimidate the crew.
He further claimed that the local Coastguard had instructed the crew at the time to not provide their Indian counterparts with the number of the satellite phone.
"The Captain said that the Indian navy personnel stayed on board the vessel for about two hours. They left after that," he said.
MNDF said this afternoon that the Maldivian Coastguard is travelling towards the location of this vessel. They have said that the matter is currently under investigation.
Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam posted on X stating that he is deeply concerned about a foreign military vessel approaching, and their personnel boarding a Maldivian vessel - Asuruma 3 of Alif Dhaalu Atoll Mahibadhoo - which was engaged in fishing 72 miles east of Haa Alif Atoll Thuraakunu, clearly within Maldives' ocean territory, and questioning the crew.
Shiyam further assured that the ministry's vessel monitoring system clearly showed that the boat in question was within Maldives' ocean territory.
However, Indian journalist Sidhant Sibal posted on social media platform X that "Indian Navy says no Indian Naval Warship in the area, after reports from Maldives emerged that Indian Navy ship was present in Maldives Exclusive Economic Zone".
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