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On October 21, coast guard officials intercepted two fishing vessels near Gayathri island, about 168 nautical miles off Mangaluru coast, and took into custody 15 crew members after they failed to produce necessary documents. While one of the boats capsized after developing a technical snag, the other boat was brought to Mangalore Port.
On basis of the written complaint lodged by Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Deputy Commandant Kuldeep Sharma, Karnataka State Coastal Security Police (KSCP) station in Mangaluru filed case against the 15 Iranian fishermen under Maritime Zone of Indian Act 1981.
New Delhi-based Advocate Karan Pal Singh, who has been appointed by Iranian embassy to secure the release of Iranian fishermen informed that they have been shifted to Bengaluru due to administrative reasons.
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The Karnataka State Coastal Security Police later added the Foreigners Act while framing the charge sheet.
Sources in Mangaluru district jail said that foreign nationals cannot be detained in prisons for a longer duration and hence the Iranian fishermen were shifted to central jail in Bengaluru weeks ago.
Advocate Karan Pal Singh said the cases, including his appeal to discharge fishermen under the stringent Foreigners Act, will continue to be heard in JMFC (III court).