Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 03 February 2023
ICGS Rajkiran on her routine patrol on 22nd January 2023, to the Northern Group of Islands, sighted one suspected boat operating in close vicinity of Barren Island. The ship launched one boarding party to investigate the suspected vessel and when the ship’s boarding party closed in on the suspected boat, four people were sighted in the boat.
The people sighted on the suspected boat, left the boat and took shelter on Barren Island. The ship reported the incident to the ANC Headquarters and on receiving positive intelligence from the ship, the ANC Headquarters came into action and launched Ops Cucumber.
ICGS Durgabal Deshmukh was tasked for carrying out a joint operation with Army Troops on Barren Island. The ship casted off on 23 January 2023 at 1000 hrs along with 1/1 GR, 172 TA and IRBN personnel.
The ship reached the datum on the 23rd of January 2023 night and relieved ICGS Rajkiran. The ship carried out the recce of the Island in the night and scanned the complete island with the help of HHTI. Thereafter all teams set together and planned the search operation.
With the first light on 24th January 2023, the ship reached the point where the suspected people were sighted. The ship launched the Gemini to disembark Team 1 on the eastern side of Barren Island and the other two teams (Team 2 and Team 3) were disembarked on the western side of the Island. Teams after setting up their base camp immediately started searching the area from both sides. All teams started combing and closing the area.
After a through search of all possible hideouts in the jungle, the combing team finally trapped the suspected people on a cliff at 1215 hrs on 25th January 2023. On initial investigation, it was found that the apprehended personnel were Myanmarese poachers. Total of seven poachers were apprehended.
Post apprehension all of them along with all confiscated items were brought to base camp, an inventory of confiscated items was prepared and further investigation was carried out. Two teams were again launched for further search of remaining areas.
On 26th January 2023 at 1500 hrs after completing the combing thoroughly, the entire Operation was called off. Apprehended poachers along with troops were embarked onboard ICGS Durgabai Deshmukh and ICGS Rajkiran and brought to Port Blair.
On 27th January 2023, both ships reached the Coast Guard Jetty at 0620 hrs. Post completion of the handing over formalities, all poachers were handed over to the police (Central Crime Station) for further course of action.