The crewmen on board an Iraq-flagged cargo vessel were denied permission to disembark at the Karwar port in the state of Karnataka due to the presence of Pakistani and Syrian nationals aboard.
This was done following increased security protocols put in place after the terror attack at Pahalgam on April 22 that left 26 people dead, the majority being tourists.
As per a senior port official, as reported by news agency PTI, the Pakistani and Syrian crew members have been repatriated to their countries.
As part of India's strong measures against Pakistan, all Pakistani nationals in India had their visas cancelled, compelling them to leave the country immediately. Also, Pakistani-flagged ships have been prevented from entering Indian waters. The Iraqi ship at Karwar, which sailed from Iraq's Al Zubair port, was carrying bitumen. The crew comprised 15 Indian nationals, one Pakistani, and two Syrians, the official said.
In the wake of standard inspection protocols and heightened security alertness, the reported presence of Pakistani and Syrian crew members aboard elicited a stern security reaction from port authorities as well as the Coastal Security Police, top officials reported.
In addition, the captain was instructed to take away the mobile phones of the three individuals so that no external communication can be made. The Syrian and Pakistani crew were confined on the ship for two days as the cargo was unloaded.
"While international cargo vessels typically carry crew members from various nations, they usually are not cleared to disembark in Indian ports unless permission is specially allowed. In this case, normal prohibitions were strictly enforced given the prevailing security environment," the port spokesperson said.
Coastal Security Police Inspector Nischal Kumar also confirmed, "The people were asked not to use their mobile phones and were sent back with the vessel. Coastal surveillance has been intensified and weak points along the coast are under strict surveillance."
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