Bhatkal, September 3: An abandoned boat found off the coast of Murudeshwar near here pressed the panic button, as teams from Customs department and local police rushed to the site for inspection.
After hours of frantic search and verification of authorities, an all safe signal came through with a sigh of relief.
A source in Murudeshwar police station said, on a tip-off that a deserted fishing boat was floating on shores on Saturday, a patrolling team was immediately dispatched to the site. The deserted fibre boat was empty, it said.
However, the development triggered panic reactions from local residents in the wake of recent arrests of educated youths on terror charges in Bangalore, Hubli and neighbouring states.
No terrorists
Meanwhile, a high ranking police officer clarified that there were no terrorists in Bhatkal and other parts of Uttara Kannda district.
“Neither any terrorist activity taking place here and nor anybody got arrested in town or coastal district”, said K Balakrishna, superintendent of police of Uttara Kannada.
He brushed aside a controversial newspaper report which claimed that a commercial complex in Bhatkal belonging to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's brother providing money for terror activities in the sensitive town.
“I don't know about such commercial complex in Bhatkal. These are all rumours floated by some miscreants”, he said.
Asked about terror suspect Riyaz Bhatka, SP said that he may be from Bhatkal, but not residing in Bhatkal.
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