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Pakistani Boat Explodes After Indian Coast Guard Chase


India's Ministry of Defense released this photo that it says shows a Pakistani fishing boat that exploded and burned after those aboard the boat set it on fire after being chased by Indian Coast Guard ships on January 1, 2015.
India's Ministry of Defense released this photo that it says shows a Pakistani fishing boat that exploded and burned after those aboard the boat set it on fire after being chased by Indian Coast Guard ships on January 1, 2015.

Indian officials say a Pakistani fishing boat suspected of carrying explosives blew up in the Arabian Sea after being chased by an Indian Coast Guard vessel.

India's Defense Ministry said all four people on board the Pakistani boat were killed in the explosion.

The ministry said Indian intelligence indicated the boat was planning an "illicit transaction" when it was intercepted Wednesday off India's western coast, approximately 365 km from Porbander.

A statement said the coast guard chased the boat for about an hour and fired warning shots before it stopped. It said the boat's four-man crew then hid below deck and set the boat on fire, causing an explosion.

There was no immediate comment from Pakistan.

The incident evoked memories of the 2008 Mumbai attacks when Pakistani militants sneaked into India's financial capital by sea and carried out a terrorist assault that left 166 people dead.

Some information in this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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