Sir — This refers to the editorial, “A disturbing incident” (January 5). It is sad to note that politics has vitiated the atmosphere of the daredevilry which our Coast Guard has displayed in intercepting the Pakistani boat laden with explosives, which later on was set ablaze by the handlers of the boat. Even if the queries of the opposition parties, especially the Congress, along with that of the security experts — that the destroyed boat was carrying contraband or fishermen — is accepted, it does not hold water. On being challenged, none of the crew members paid heed to the warning and preferred to set ablaze the boat with the laden explosives.
The editorial has rightly said that, had the people on board the vessel been fishermen or contraband dealers, they would have surrendered to the Coast Guard authorities rather than blow up the boat.