Thieves strike at ship anchored for breaking off Gujarat
June 7th, 2010 - 10:21 pm ICT by IANSGandhinagar, June 7 (IANS) Two people have been arrested for theft on a ship anchored in Gopinath off the Saurashtra coast in Gujarat when security on it was withdrawn in view of cyclone Phet that was earlier expected to hit the state, police said Monday.
The theft was reported on Platinum-II, which was denied permission for dismantling at the Alang shipbreaking yard near Gujarat’s Bhavnagar in 2008, the police said.
A part of the stolen material has been recovered, police said, adding that search for three other thieves was going on.
Platinum-II was denied berthing permission in November 2008 for dismantling following objections by activists who said it contained large quantities of toxic material.
It has remained anchored in sea off the Saurashtra coast ever since.
According to Bhavnagar crime branch officers, the ship was looted of goods - copper and brass plates - worth about Rs.18 lakh when the security on it was withdrawn in view of the cyclone threat. The theft took place during this period.
The ship ran into controversy and was caught in a tug of war between the owners and activists who wanted it to be prevented from berthing at Alang for dismantling.
Subsequently, a high-level team of the union government examined the vessel Oct 20, 2008, and following its report it was denied berthing permission at Alang.
- Dismantling of ship off Gujarat coast inevitable - Jan 07, 2010
- No toxic materials on board Platinum II: Gujarat Govt - Oct 16, 2009
- SC bars US vessel from anchoring at Gujarat port - May 14, 2012
- India withhold's toxic ship's entry into Alang shipyard - Oct 15, 2009
- Damage to toxic ship Platinum II raises concern - Oct 19, 2009
- SC bars former US vessel from anchoring at Gujarat port (Lead) - May 14, 2012
- Gujarat maritime board to probe toxic US ship's ownership - Nov 10, 2009
- Toxic ship Platinum II inspected - Oct 20, 2009
- Six workers killed in fire at Alang ship-breaking yard - Aug 04, 2009
- Efforts to tow stranded ship off Mumbai suspended - Jun 17, 2011
- Efforts on to control adrift ship in Mumbai - Jun 12, 2011
- Cyclone Phet may hit Gujarat in next few days - Jun 02, 2010
- Central team completes inspection of toxic ship Platinum II - Oct 21, 2009
- Dismantling of toxic ships in Gujarat worries apex court - May 25, 2011
- Gujarat readies for cyclone Phet, squalls hit coastal areas (Lead) - Jun 02, 2010
Tags: activists, bhavnagar, brass plates, controversy, copper and brass, crime branch, cyclone, gandhinagar, gopinath, gujarat, lakh, objections, phet, platinum, quantities, state police, thieves, toxic material, tug of war, union government