Mumbai: Man rescued from suspicious boat sighted near Bhuigaon beach in Vasai West

The man identified as Rafiq Shaikh was rescued by the local police on Friday morning with the help of the Coast Guard who sent a helicopter for the rescue operation. Pic/Hanif Patel

A man was rescued from a suspicious boat that was spotted off Bhuigaon beach in Vasai West on Thursday.

He was identified as Rafiq Shaikh and was rescued by the local police on Friday morning with the help of the Indian Coast Guard, who sent a helicopter for the rescue operation.

"We received a call from the police who sought our help and requested to send a helicopter as one man was stranded on the boat. Our men lowered down one rope and rescued the man," a senior official from the Indian Coast Guard told mid-day.

Rescue operation at Bhuigaon beach. Pic/ Hanif Patel

The Vasai Police is recording the statement of Shaikh, who did not inform the concerned authority despite carrying a cell phone with him.

The boat, 'Hira Devi', belongs to Akhtar Kalokhe, who told mid-day that it got drifted from Uttan on Thursday. "The anchor and rope got snapped as the sea was rough yesterday and the boat got drifted to Bhuigaon beach from Uttan," he said.

Also read: Suspicious boat triggers panic near Bhuigaon beach in Vasai

Hira Devi boat. Pic/Hanif Patel

When asked if he informed the officials concerned to seek help, Kalokhe said, "I had informed the port officials. We were also about to send one boat to Rafiq Shaikh, but none could reach as the boat was stranded at a rocky seabed and no boat could reach there. But the Coast Guard official has airlifted our man (Shaikh) and I am heading to the police station to record my statement."

The Zonal DCP Sanjay Kumar Patil told mid-day that the price of the boat is Rs 25 lakh and it is used for carrying workers and offshore construction material.

"Shaikh was in touch with his employer on phone but did not inform the police to seek help. Our inquiry is underway," Patil told mid-day.

Shaikh was seen carrying a black bag when he was taken to Vasai police station to record his statement.

The Coast Guard officials had conducted an aerial survey in the area on Thursday but no one was seen on board a stranded boat. This suspicious boat had created panic among fisherfolk. The security was beefed up in the area and all the roads leading to Bhuigaon beach were barricaded and vehicles were thoroughly checked.