PANAJI: Karwar Port officials have reportedly denied permission for Pakistani and Syrian nationals aboard an Iraqi cargo vessel to disembark, citing enhanced security measures issued in the aftermath of the recent Pahalgam terror attack.
The vessel, MT R Ocean, which departed from Al Zubair, Iraq, arrived at Karwar on May 12 carrying bitumen. The crew comprised 15 Indian nationals, one Pakistani citizen, and two Syrian nationals, with the ship’s captain being Indian.
According to senior port officials, standard inspection protocols coupled with heightened vigilance led to the decision to restrict the Pakistani and Syrian crew members from disembarking.
Officials said the mobile phones of the Pakistani and Syrian nationals were confiscated through the ship’s captain to prevent communication, and the individuals remained confined on board for two days while the cargo was unloaded.
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Coastal Security Police (CSP) confirmed that Police Inspector Nischal Kumar had directed that Pakistani and Syrian nationals on board should not be allowed to disembark due to the tense relations between India and Pakistan.
Karwar port officials reiterated that after the completion of cargo unloading, the Iraqi commercial vessel set sail back to Iraq with the crew intact, adhering strictly to the security protocols.
