["The ***most important factor for classifying them as suspected or probable terrorists is that they committed suicide, harakiri*** [emphasis added]. Even a normal boat with drugs would throw them away and surrender. No one will kill himself unless motivated to do so," Mr. [Manohar] Parrikar [Indian Defence Minister] said at a function here [in New Delhi]."
That was on Jan. 5 2015. Now compare this with the following: The government's version is now belied by remarks made by DIG B K Loshali -- he is also Chief of Staff (North West Region), Coast Guard, Gandhinagar -- at a gathering of officials from the Coast Guard and Larsen & Toubro during the launch of Coast Guard interceptor boat ICGS C-421, designed and built by L&T, Surat. Loshali was speaking [on Feb. 16 2015] in the presence of Coast Guard DIG Sudhir Sahni, in-charge of refit and production; and G Sethy, Deputy Commandant, who are based in Surat. The interceptor boat was formally launched by Loshali's wife Ira Loshali on the L&T premises at Hazira. ***"Let me tell you," he said, "I hope you remember 31st December night... we blew off that Pakistan... We have blown them off... I was there at Gandhinagar and I told at night, blow the boat off. We don't want to serve them biryani..."*** [Emphasis added.] Loshali began his speech saying, "Mujhe speech di gayi thi lekin main mann se baat karoonga (I was given a (written) speech, but I shall speak my mind)." END Now the obvious question that arises is which of the two versions is more credible: the official version mouthed by the Defence Minister of the country to give out his side on an issue of hot (international) controversy or the (obviously) unguarded boasting and bragging of a high Coast Guard official in presence of his colleagues and others.] I/III. http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/i-told-at-night-blow-the-pak-boat-off-we-dont-want-to-serve-them-biryani-coast-guard-dig/99/ WEDNESDAY, FEB 18, 2015 Coast Guard DIG: I told at night, blow the Pak boat off, we don't want to serve them biryani Indian Coast Guard DIG B K Loshali, speaking on Monday, (Inset: The fishing boat on fire on the high seas). Written by Kamal Saiyed | Surat | Posted: February 18, 2015 3:03 am | Updated: February 18, 2015 11:44 am Directly contradicting the government's position, a Deputy Inspector General of the Coast Guard said Monday that it was the Coast Guard which blew up the Pakistani boat on the night of December 31, 2014. And that he was the one who ordered: "Blow the boat off...We don't want to serve them biryani..." This is the first time that the Coast Guard -- in remarks that were recorded -- has admitted that it destroyed the suspect boat which, the government claimed, had blown itself up under suspicious circumstances. Also read: Doubts over India's claims of destroying 'terror boat' from Pakistan Statements and remarks by the MoD, Defence Minister and the Coast Guard had said the boat's crew had set it on fire or were responsible for the explosion that destroyed the boat 365 miles off Porbandar after an hour-long chase by a Coast Guard ship on New Year's Eve. RELATED Pak Boat Crew May Have Taken Cyanide Pill: Manohar Parrikar Pakistan Boat Explosion: Occupants Not Smugglers But Possible Terrorists, Says Parrikar Pakistan Boat Trail Allegedly Linked To Karachi-Based Drug Mafia The Indian Express had reported that intelligence and naval sources had said that evidence suggested "use of disproportionate force" by the Coast Guard. The sources also said the videotape of the burning boat did not appear to show that explosives were on board. The government's version is now belied by remarks made by DIG B K Loshali -- he is also Chief of Staff (North West Region), Coast Guard, Gandhinagar -- at a gathering of officials from the Coast Guard and Larsen & Toubro during the launch of Coast Guard interceptor boat ICGS C-421, designed and built by L&T, Surat. Also read: Occupants not smugglers but possible terrorists, says Defence Minister Parrikar Loshali was speaking in the presence of Coast Guard DIG Sudhir Sahni, in-charge of refit and production; and G Sethy, Deputy Commandant, who are based in Surat. The interceptor boat was formally launched by Loshali's wife Ira Loshali on the L&T premises at Hazira. "Let me tell you," he said, "I hope you remember 31st December night... we blew off that Pakistan... We have blown them off... I was there at Gandhinagar and I told at night, blow the boat off. We don't want to serve them biryani..." Loshali began his speech saying, "Mujhe speech di gayi thi lekin main mann se baat karoonga (I was given a (written) speech, but I shall speak my mind)." Also read: Pakistan boat trail allegedly linked to Karachi-based drug mafia So far the Ministry of Defence and Coast Guard have been saying that the purported Pakistani fishing boat due for an "illicit transaction at sea" and identified later as Qalandar, had blown itself up. In its release on January 2, the Ministry of Defence said: "The Coast Guard ship warned the fishing boat to stop for further investigation of the crew and cargo; however, the boat increased speed and tried to escape away from the Indian side of maritime boundary. The hot pursuit continued for nearly one hour and the Coast Guard ship managed to stop the fishing boat after firing warning shots. Four persons were seen on the boat who disregarded all warnings by the Coast Guard ship to stop and cooperate with investigation. Soon thereafter, the crew hid themselves in below deck compartment and set the boat on fire, which resulted in explosion and major fire on the boat." Also Read: Indian Coast Guard reveals operation details On January 3, Kuldip Singh Sheoran, Commander, Indian Coast Guard (North West), Gandhinagar, told The Indian Express: "After we had covered them from the air and the sea, the suspects blew up the boat... suddenly a ball of fire rose into the air and the boat was aflame." VIDEO: Just over a month ago The Indian Express showed you chinks in coastal security On January 5, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said: "A normal boat, even carrying some drugs, can throw away their drugs and surrender. No one is going to be killing himself unless you are motivated enough to do that... As per our information, the boat was under our surveillance for over 12 hours -- probably for more than a day -- stationed there in one position... (I am) not speculating that it had explosives, but it had some activity in mind that does not fit the description of a smuggling boat. Which smuggler would commit suicide?" II/III. http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/pakistan-boat-men-not-smugglers-but-suspected-terrorists-manohar-parrikar/99/ Pakistan boat explosion: Occupants not smugglers but possible terrorists, says Parrikar Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. By: Express News Service | New Delhi | Posted: January 6, 2015 12:00 am | Updated: January 6, 2015 5:10 am Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Monday that while the government was "not sure" about the "kind of activity" that the occupants of the Pakistani fishing boat were involved in, "circumstantial evidence" indicated that they were "suspected or possible terrorists". The Indian Express reported on Monday that investigators in Karachi had identified the boat as a vessel allegedly linked to a drug mafia based in Pakistan. The boat was destroyed on New Year's Eve about 365 km off Porbandar. READ: Congress doing politics over terror: BJP on Pakistan boat incident Speaking to the media today, Parrikar said the boat was neither in a fishing area nor on any busy route preferred by smugglers. "It does not indicate any type of smuggling activity but some other kind of activity. We are not sure what is that other kind," he said. He said he would classify the four occupants of the boat as "suspected or possible terrorists", adding that "smugglers don't keep in touch with Pakistani maritime agency or their army or international contacts." Replying to questions about the veracity of this assessment, Parrikar said, "...circumstantial evidence indicates what I am saying." PTI quoted him as saying that all the details would be released soon. "They are doing analysis. We will release it once they complete the analysis in two-three days. Maybe it will take four days. Let them do the analysis and after that we will release it," he said. ***Parrikar said the suicidal act of setting the boat on fire showed that the men were "committed" and indicated a suspected terror link. "A normal boat, even carrying some drugs, can throw away their drugs and surrender. No one is going to be killing himself unless you are motivated enough to do that," he said.*** [Emphasis added.] READ: Pak boat explosion: Only 1 suspect visible, cops too had intel "As per our information, the boat was under our surveillance for over 12 hours -- probably for more than a day -- stationed there in one position... (I am) not speculating that it had explosives, but it had some activity in mind that does not fit the description of a smuggling boat. Which smuggler would commit suicide," said Parrikar. "There is speculation, but I don't intend to be a part of the speculation, except to say that one very important aspect is that the location (where the boat was found) is not a normal route for a fishing boat," he said. In its statement last week, the Ministry of Defence said that "as per intelligence reports", the boat was planning "some illicit transactions in the Arabian Sea". It added that Parrikar had "complimented" the Coast Guard for averting a "possible danger". "The Coast Guard could not have done better. It was dark and the boat was laden with explosives, which appears to be at least partly correct," said Parrikar today. Meanwhile, the Coast Guard ship that has returned to Porbandar has not been able to bring back any wreckage of the boat or the bodies of the crew. This leaves only photographic evidence to support the claims that the boat was carrying explosives. "Footage has already come out... Raat ka time tha, toh clarity itni nahi rahegi uski (it was at night, so it is not very clear)," said Parrikar, "As per my knowledge, there was very specific, clear intelligence. They were interacting about passing on cargo." III. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pakistan-boatmen-not-smugglers-but-suspected-terrorists-parrikar/article6756272.ece NEW DELHI, January 5, 2015 Updated: January 5, 2015 23:21 IST Pakistan boat had suspected terror links, says Manohar Parrikar DINAKAR PERI A view of the suspicious Pakistan vessel, which exploded 365 km off Porbandar. Photo courtesy: Indian Coast Guard An aerial view of the fishing boat before being intercepted by Indian Coast Guard off Porbander in Gujarat. File photo PTI An aerial view of the fishing boat before being intercepted by Indian Coast Guard off Porbander in Gujarat. File photo Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Monday that all "circumstantial evidence" surrounding the Pakistani fishing boat pointed to a terror link and that its occupants were in touch with Pakistan maritime security agencies and the army. ***"The most important factor for classifying them as suspected or probable terrorists is that they committed suicide, harakiri. Even a normal boat with drugs would throw them away and surrender. No one will kill himself unless motivated to do so," Mr. Parrikar said at a function here.*** [Emphasis added.] The Indian Coast Guard had intercepted a suspicious Pakistani boat on December 31 night following Intelligence inputs. The Coast Guard said four people on the boat, finding themselves cornered after unsuccessfully trying to escape, set the vessel on fire and it ultimately sank. Read: Pakistan rejects Indian report on explosives boat "The route taken is not the normal fishing route and the area is not a fishing area. Even smugglers of gold and contraband take a busy route to pass off as a fishing boat," Mr. Parrikar said. Also, smugglers do not keep in touch with Pakistani maritime security agencies or their army officers, he said. Long surveillance "Intelligence inputs were clear and left no room for speculation by the Coast Guard. They reacted immediately. The boat was under our surveillance for almost 12-14 hours and the Coast Guard intercepted it as soon as possible," Mr. Parrikar said. He said the boat was in an isolated location when spotted by surveillance aircraft. "It does not indicate any type of smuggling activity but some other kind of activity," Mr. Parrikar said, adding, "We are not sure what is that other kind." Communication intercepts by Intelligence agencies indicate the conversation was about passing on cargo and delivering it and some talk about family members of some of the members. Asked about the presence of a second boat, Mr. Parrikar said it was in international waters. Asked about the repeated ceasefire violations on the border by Pakistan, Mr. Parrikar said: "It only proves what we have been saying that there is an attempt to push unwanted elements across the border and cover fire happens to facilitate that." Top Developments Islamabad denies the vessel had set sail from its shores.More Was Coast Guard ship fast enough? Questions are being raised about why a Coast Guard vessel should have taken an hour to intercept a fishing boat, but some security experts believe the time taken was not extraordinary. BJP flays Pakistan and lauds the alacrity displayed by the forces in foiling the bid similar to the 26/11 terror attacks ***Four crew members of an explosive-laden boat die in an explosion triggered by the fire set off by them after the Indian Coast Guard intercepts the vessel.*** [Emphasis added.] -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. 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