Kuwaiti Boat Returned After Security Scare

A Kuwaiti boat seized in February, when three men undetectedly arrived in Mumbai, was handed back to its owner after legal formalities. The incident had raised serious concerns about India's maritime security post the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

Seven months after a Kuwaiti boat was seized when three men on board reached Mumbai undetected, giving a scare to security agencies, the vessel was handed over to its owner on Thursday after completion of legal formalities, officials said.

On February 6, three men from Tamil Nadu arrived in Mumbai on a boat that traveled undetected from Kuwait, raising concerns about maritime security that was revamped after the 2008 Mumbai sea-borne terror attack orchestrated from Pakistan.

The vessel was spotted in the Arabian Sea near Sassoon Dock in south Mumbai, leading to the apprehension of the men by police. They were later arrested for illegal entry, and the boat was seized.

After seven months, the boat was finally returned to its owner Abdullah Sharahit following legal procedures at the Colaba Police Station, officials reported.

Sharahit, who came to Mumbai with two lawyers, completed formalities to recover the vessel.

The incident heightened concerns about post-26/11 maritime security. The three men, who claimed torture and exploitation by their Kuwaiti employer, navigated to Mumbai using a GPS device after a ten-day sea journey.

(With inputs from agencies.)