Kolkata, Jan 19 (AHN) The Indian Coast Guard on Monday arrested 24 Bangladeshi fishermen for allegedly crossing the international marine border in the Bay of Bengal in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal and entering Indian waters, and handed them over to the coastal police wing of the West Bengal Police.

Early on Monday morning, a patrolling vessel of the Indian Coast Guard spotted a Bangladeshi fishing trawler with 24 fishermen within Indian waters. The Coast Guard vessel chased the trawler and apprehended it within Indian waters.

After taking the 24 Bangladeshi fishermen into custody, Coast Guard personnel conducted preliminary questioning and later on Monday afternoon handed them over to Frasergunj Coastal Police Station.

During questioning, the fishermen claimed that they entered Indian waters by mistake due to dense fog in the region.

However, police sources said further questioning is underway to ascertain whether the fishermen entered Indian waters inadvertently or with any other intent.

The arrested fishermen were unable to furnish any identity documents in support of their claims.

“They have been arrested on charges of illegally crossing the international marine border and entering Indian waters in an unauthorised manner. They will be produced before a district court on Tuesday," a district police officer said.

In the recent past, the Indian Coast Guard had detained more than 100 Bangladeshi fishermen in Indian waters for alleged illegal intrusion. While some were released later, trial proceedings for others are still underway at the Kakdwip court in South 24 Parganas district.

Earlier in December 18 last year, 35 Bangladeshi fishermen were arrested and their two trawlers seized by the Coast Guard after they were found in the Indian waters in the Bay of Bengal.

Earlier, on December 15 last year, a Bangladesh Navy ship had collided with a fishing trawler belonging to fishermen from Kakdwip in South 24 Parganas district after entering Indian waters. In that incident, 11 fishermen narrowly escaped with their lives, while five others were reported missing.

On Monday morning, the sunken trawler was brought to the Moynapara dock in Kakdwip.

Special vigilance, both by the Indian Coast Guard and the coastal police wing of West Bengal have been ramped up at the international marine borders in West Bengal, especially in the South 24 Parganas district, since the political turmoil in neighbouring Bangladesh broke out last year.