Boat found floating off Maharashtra coast with cache of weapons, high alert sounded

The boat was found near the Harihareshwar beach in the state’s Raigad district; security was raised in adjacent areas.

The boat and weapons was found near the Harihareshwar beach | Twitter

New Delhi/Mumbai: Security was tightened Thursday in Maharashtra’s Raigad district after a suspicious boat was found floating near a local beach.

Nearby areas around the Harihareshwar beach were also put on alert, the police said, while it investigated how the boat came to be there.

Reports said the boat contained weapons, including AK-47 rifles. It seemed to have been abandoned. The boat was pulled to shore after the local administration reached the spot.

Suspicious boat with weapons found off Raigad coast, Maharashtra.

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Harihareshwar is a popular destination for tourists from nearby cities, particularly Mumbai and Pune. It was teeming with visitors during the Independence weekend four days ago.

Raigad MLA Aditi Tatkare told media Thursday that the Raigad police were on the job.

She has also requested Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to constitute a special team to probe the matter. She said the state’s popular “dahi handi” event was on Friday – a merriment associated with Krishna Janmashtami.

It would be followed by ten days of Ganeshotsav, she added. “People come here during these festivals. Security is an important issue. An additional team needs to be sent there so that people feel safe,” Tatkare told reporters outside the Assembly in Mumbai.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the boat belonged to an Australian citizen.

“Its engine broke in the sea, and people were rescued by a Korean boat. It has now reached the Harihareshwar beach. Keeping in mind the coming festive season, the police and administration have been instructed to be prepared,” he said.

Fadnavis also said there was “no confirmation of any terror angle”, and that the boat had just drifted towards the shore. “But we are not ruling out anything and investigating all aspects,” he said.

Fadnavis confirmed that three AK-47s were found in the boat. “The boat in a half-broken condition came towards the Konkan coast due to high tide. Central agencies have been informed and nothing will be taken lightly,” he said.