North Korean ship docks in Andhra’s Kakinada Port for probe

August 22nd, 2009 - 7:10 pm ICT by ANI  

Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh), Aug.22 (ANI): The North Korean ship MV Mu San arrived at the Kakinada Port in Andhra Pradesh from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Saturday for further inspection by scientists.

A private television channel reported that central security agencies and nuclear scientists will conduct a thorough investigation to check if the ship is carrying any radioactive and nuclear material.

The 39-member crew of the ship, which also includes its captain Yun Jong Sun, would be questioned at the port itself.

Earlier, the seized North Korean vessel M V Mu San left Hut Bay in Andaman waters for Kakinada Port.

The Indian Coast Guard escorted the North Korean vessel, official sources said.

The MV Mu San is likely to be booked under the Indian Maritime Act for illegally entering in to the Indian waters.

According to sources, the Union Home Ministry, Defence Ministry and External Affairs Ministry are coordinating with each other to finalise procedure in this regard.

The Coast Guard detained the North Korean vessel after chasing it for over six-hours near Andaman and Nicobar Islands on August 6.

The Union Home Ministry had sent a letter to Port Blair Police asking it to file a report on entire chain of events, which led to the interception of the ship.

A team of two nuclear scientists from the Kalpakam Nuclear Power Station has carried out a preliminary investigation of the ship and ruled out the existence of any chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear (CRBN) traces on board the vessel.

Indian security agencies want to find out whether there was any CBRN consignment with sophisticated equipments.

The ship is said to be carrying 3.3 lakh gunny bags of sugar weighing 16,500 kilograms, sources said. (ANI)

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