Boat filled with 142 Rohingya reached Andaman Nicobar, people on board the boat included 47 women and 59 minors

A boat carrying 142 suspected Rohingya refugees was intercepted by coastal security agencies in Andaman Nicobar Islands on Sunday. Police said that the boat had left Bangladesh about 14-15 days ago and was going to Indonesia. Officials said that on Sunday morning, the Port Blair police control room received information from the local intelligence about the movement of a suspicious boat near Shaheed Island.

After this, several coastal security agencies including the Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Police swung into action. The boat was stopped after action was taken by the agencies. The people on board the boat included 47 women and 59 minors. The boat was towed to Shaheed Dweep by the marine police as it had developed some technical snag and was not fit for further travel, police said.

He said all the Rohingyas were taken to Port Blair and kept in a temporary shelter by the local administration pending further instructions from the central government. Earlier on February 13, a motorboat carrying 69 Rohingyas had reached the Nicobar district. Officials said it was going to Indonesia, but stopped here due to bad weather.