Coast Guard DIG sacked for ordering blowing up of Pakistani trawler

Indian Coast Guard Deputy Inspector General B.K. Loshali has been sacked after an inquiry panel found him guilty of ordering that a Pakistani fishing trawler be blown up on New Year' Eve last year, officials said on Monday.

He was dismissed after the Board of Inquiry -- comprising DIG-rank officers -- found his comments contradicted the government's stand on the sinking of the trawler, an official said.

On December 31 last year, the boat was intercepted off the Gujarat coast, but it blew up and sank with its four occupants.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had said evidence indicated that the boat had suspected terror links.

While the government said the Pakistani boat was set on fire by its crew, Loshali said he had ordered that it be blown up.

Later, the government removed Loshali from his post, and deployed him with the Coast Guard's Gandhinagar-based regional headquarters.

A Board of Inquiry in Mumbai was set up, which probed the matter for over three months and then court-martialled Loshali.