Security forces in Maharashtra’s Raigad district are on high alert following the detection of a suspicious boat near the Revdanda coastline on Sunday night. The vessel, picked up on the Indian Navy’s radar, was reportedly located approximately two nautical miles from the Korlai shoreline, prompting swift multi-agency action.

The vessel is believed to be a foreign fishing boat, possibly from Pakistan. While its identity remains unconfirmed, officials say it will be properly verified once the boat is reached. One senior police source noted, “It was possibly a Pakistani fishing vessel, but the identity and other details will be ascertained once the boat is intercepted.”

Soon after the sighting, the Raigad Police, Quick Response Team (QRT), Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS), the Coast Guard, and Navy personnel launched a joint night-time search operation. The boat is suspected to have drifted toward Indian waters due to marine currents.

Weather conditions, however, severely affected efforts to reach the vessel. Persistent heavy rains and strong winds blocked access by sea. Raigad Superintendent of Police Anchal Dalal led the operation at the shore. She attempted to board a barge to reach the boat but had to turn back due to the stormy weather. Officials stated, “Dalal herself attempted to approach the boat using a barge but had to return due to adverse weather.”

Security arrangements across the district were intensified. Large numbers of police personnel were deployed throughout key locations in Raigad, and coastal vigilance was heightened as a precaution. Authorities reported spotting a red light coming from the suspected vessel during the night, which raised further suspicion and led to multiple roadblocks being enforced in the region.

Initial reports suggested some individuals may have disembarked from the boat before it drifted closer to shore. Officials have not confirmed any landfall but are continuing to monitor the area.

The incident has drawn comparisons to the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, where armed infiltrators arrived via the sea route and launched a deadly assault on the city. As a senior officer reminded, “In November 2008, 10 heavily-armed terrorists sailed towards the Mumbai coastline from Pakistan under the cover of darkness and created mayhem for three days…”

At present, coordinated search efforts are ongoing, and all relevant maritime and local security agencies remain stationed near the Revdanda coastline.