RAJKOT: A plot hatched by two engineer brothers from Tamil Nadu working in Oman to illegally enter India via sea route was thwarted by the Devbhumi Dwarka police near Okha port on Thursday early morning.
In a joint operation launched following specific information, the local crime branch, special operation group and Okha Marine police intercepted a boat moving suspiciously near the Signature Bridge connecting Okha port and temple town Bet Dwarka at around 3am. They arrested the TN man Ashok Kumar Mathurela (37), three Iranian nationals- Mustafa Baluchi (38), Jashem Baluchi (25), and Amir Hussian Baluchi (19) – and Mathurela’s brother Anand (35).
Investigation revealed that Ashok, a mechanical engineer working in Muscat for the last few years, hatched the plan after his sponsor seized his passport over some pending dues. Ashok, a native of Coimbatore, told police during preliminary questioning that he was married to an Egyptian woman who left him, taking their daughter along. She then asked him to take the daughter to live with him, but as Ashok didn’t have a passport, he decided to return to India and obtain a fresh one.
He got the contact of a doctor named Hussain in Iran, who arranged a boat with three crew members for him by charging 8,000 rials.
Meanwhile, Anand, who had a valid passport took a flight to India, came to Rajkot, and reached Okha via road to receive his brother. The brothers are natives of Coimbatore.
“We are taking his version with a pinch of salt, and trying to verify his claims,” said a police officer.
Nitesh Pandey, superintendent of police, Devbhmi Dwarka said, “They went to Iran by sea route from Oman and arranged a boat from there. The three Irananians are crew members of the boat and they were in touch with Dr Hussain through Thuraya satellite phone. They started from Jask town of Iran some five-six days ago for the Okha port.”
The 10 gram of heroin seized from them was for their own consumption. Along with the satellite phone, police seized eight mobile phones, two laptops, 2.50 lakh Irani rials, a GPS device, and 15 debit cards.
All were booked under sections of NDPS Act, Passport Act and Foreigners Act. Police said this was a major national security breach as nefarious elements wanting to foment trouble in the country can use the same modus operandi to enter illegally.
In a joint operation launched following specific information, the local crime branch, special operation group and Okha Marine police intercepted a boat moving suspiciously near the Signature Bridge connecting Okha port and temple town Bet Dwarka at around 3am. They arrested the TN man Ashok Kumar Mathurela (37), three Iranian nationals- Mustafa Baluchi (38), Jashem Baluchi (25), and Amir Hussian Baluchi (19) – and Mathurela’s brother Anand (35).
Investigation revealed that Ashok, a mechanical engineer working in Muscat for the last few years, hatched the plan after his sponsor seized his passport over some pending dues. Ashok, a native of Coimbatore, told police during preliminary questioning that he was married to an Egyptian woman who left him, taking their daughter along. She then asked him to take the daughter to live with him, but as Ashok didn’t have a passport, he decided to return to India and obtain a fresh one.
He got the contact of a doctor named Hussain in Iran, who arranged a boat with three crew members for him by charging 8,000 rials.
Meanwhile, Anand, who had a valid passport took a flight to India, came to Rajkot, and reached Okha via road to receive his brother. The brothers are natives of Coimbatore.
“We are taking his version with a pinch of salt, and trying to verify his claims,” said a police officer.
Nitesh Pandey, superintendent of police, Devbhmi Dwarka said, “They went to Iran by sea route from Oman and arranged a boat from there. The three Irananians are crew members of the boat and they were in touch with Dr Hussain through Thuraya satellite phone. They started from Jask town of Iran some five-six days ago for the Okha port.”
The 10 gram of heroin seized from them was for their own consumption. Along with the satellite phone, police seized eight mobile phones, two laptops, 2.50 lakh Irani rials, a GPS device, and 15 debit cards.
All were booked under sections of NDPS Act, Passport Act and Foreigners Act. Police said this was a major national security breach as nefarious elements wanting to foment trouble in the country can use the same modus operandi to enter illegally.
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