The vessel, used by 26/11 terrorists to enter the city, left for Porbunder yesterday
The vessel, used by 26/11 terrorists to enter the city, left for Porbunder yesterday
Fifty-year-old Arvind Khorian, one of the four fishermen who sailed from Mumbai to Porbunder yesterday afternoon on the MV Kuber, the vessel used by 26/11 terrorists to enter the city, is a scared man.
|
|
ROUGH WATERS: Tandel Amarsinh Solanki's murder haunts other mariners who will steer the ship, MV Kuber, to Porbunder. PIC/SURESH K |
It was on the Kuber that 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Qasab slit tandel (mariner) Amarsinh Solanki's throat a fact neither Khorian nor his colleagues who believe in ghosts can forget. "I am spending the next four days in the ship. It is quite scary.
Tandel Amarsinh Solanki's murder still haunts us. But we have to take the ship back to where it belongs," said Khorian. "We fishermen are a tough lot. But a ghost is a ghost. I am sure Solanki's soul will steer us safely into Porbunder," said another crewmember.
The MV Kuber's hold, which was used by the Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists to hide themselves, was heaped with fishing nets, when this correspondent visited it.
The skipper's deck has a thick teak wood bench, which was used by the terrorists for their siestas, while Solanki manned the rusty helm. There are bloodstains on the teakwood floor, where the authorities found Solanki's body.
Vinodbhai Masani, the owner of M V Kuber, was busy arranging for fuel and provisions for the voyage to Porbunder when this correspondent boarded the ship at Mallet Bunder yesterday afternoon. Products manufactured in Pakistan left behind by the terrorists like Medicam dental cream, Touchme shaving cream and bottles of Mountain mineral water, pickles and matchboxes have been replaced by Indian products.
Boat was hired, not hijackedIntelligence officials suspect that the M V Kuber boat was hired and not hijacked to carry the arms and ammunition by the terrorists to Mumbai. Investigations have indicated that Kuber set sail from Jakau port in Gujarat on November 14. Coast Guard officials ran a check on Kuber's route and found that the boat had sailed about 50 nautical miles off Sir Creek into Pakistani waters, where the consignment was transferred on to the Kuber.
