The Indian Navy has initiated an investigation following reports of large fishing vessels displaying Chinese flags allegedly entering Indian territorial waters in the Arabian Sea near the coastal region of Karnataka, according to sources on Friday.
As per sources, the incident was brought to attention three days ago, prompting the Indian Navy to launch an inquiry into the matter.
The presence of Chinese fishing boats in Indian waters came to light through two videos circulating on social media platforms in coastal districts, sparking concerns among locals.
One video, spanning 43 seconds, captures a massive vessel adorned with two Chinese flags and marked with 'BVKY 5' navigating the Arabian Sea within Indian territorial waters during daylight. In the footage, the voices of local fishermen conversing in Malayalam and Tulu languages can be heard as they approach the Chinese vessel to record the incident. The occupants of the Chinese vessel are also visible in the video.
Another video, filmed at night, reveals the lights of Chinese vessels allegedly engaged in fishing activities within Indian territorial waters. Lasting 51 seconds, the video depicts over 11 vessels equipped with golden LED lights conducting fishing operations in the Arabian Sea. Notably, the use of LED lights in fishing was prohibited by the Indian government in 2017. Fishermen conversing in Tulu and Kannada languages in the video identify all the vessels as Chinese.
Concerned by the reported presence of Chinese vessels, fishermen in Karnataka have urged the Indian Coast Guard and Navy to investigate the matter further.
While a naval inquiry has been initiated, official statements from authorities regarding the incident are yet to be issued.
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