Bhubaneswar, Oct 19 (IANS) A public suit was filed in the Orissa High Court to check the illegal fishing boats in coastal areas which the petitioner maintained could “jeopardize the security of the country”.
“I have filed the petition to check the illegal fishing boats in the coastal areas, especially along the coast of Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapra district. The illegal fishing boats pose a serious security threat to the state and the nation as a whole,” said Nishikant Mishra, the petitioner and advocate of Orissa High Court.

“The illegal fishing boats operate along the coast without any security checks. It is very easy for anti-nationals to enter the Indian coast, like the Mumbai intruders,” he added.

The petitioner has filed the PIL after submitting a memorandum to the state home secretary, districts police officials and collectors in this regard.

The petitioner claimed that the state government has given license to 630 fishing boats, of which 538 boats are operating along the two coastal districts. He said, “There is little information regarding the owners of the rest of the boats which could be used by some anti-nationals.”

The petitioner has also demanded proper checking of the fishing boats to “check explosives being imported to Indian soil”.