Ahmedabad: The bodies of five fishermen suspected to be crew members of fishing trawler Kuber that was hijacked by militants involved in Mumbai attacks have been found, officials sources said here.

The militants killed four members of the crew and threw their bodies into the water soon after taking control of the vehicle but kept the captain alive so that he could help them in navigation until reaching Mumbai's shores where they slit his throat, the sources said.

"The officials have recovered four bodies of fishermen suspected to be crew of Kuber from high seas, while the body of its captain was found from the boat seized by Mumbai Coast Guard," they added. The captains hands were tied behind his back.

"Terrorists departed from some locations in Pakistan by vessel M V Alpha. We don't know the exact locations from where they started their journey from that country but the route of the trawler started from Pakistan," Customs officials involved in the investigations said.

To avoid the possibility of being caught by Indian marine security agencies, the terrorist hijacked the fishing trawler Kuber probably near Jakhau, and instructed the Captain to cruise towards Mumbai, they added.

The four onboard crew members of Kuber were killed on way and thrown into water, the custom officials said.

The fishing trawler owned by one Hiralal Masani and his brother Vinod Masani, had sailed from Porbander for fishing expidition on November 14,though the departure time of Kuber in custom records was registred as November 13,the officials said.

The Indian boats and vessels that sail from the dock are registered with the customs and the identity of the crew and captain is also recorded. "They hijacked this ship as they thought that they can easily go through any kind of checking from Indian marine agencies," he added.

"They might have taken the captain of Kuber with them to possibly take them to Mumbai," customs officials said.

"Later, when they reached Mumbai his throat was slit. Mumbai Coast Guard has recovered the body of the captain from the boat, which is in their possession," officials further said.

They also said that Vessel M V Alpha, is in possession of the Coast Guard.

Earlier, there was a confusion regarding bulk carrier M V Alpha which has come to Alang shipbreaking yard in Bhavnagar district for dismantling.

However, the official clarifed that the bulk carrier is of Maltan origin, which is different from vessel M V Alpha

National Forum for Fishermen President Manish Lodhari said the last contact the owners could establish with Kuber was on November 22.

After that they could not establish contact with the boat, he added.

Fishing boats like Kuber, usually out on expedition for 10 to 15 days, with a budget of 1.5 lakhs, have ample food stock, ice, diesel, officials said.

"Fishermen sighted at least two dead bodies floating in the deep see in Jakhau area," Porbandar Boat Association President said.

"We have subsequently passed the information to the authorities including Coast Guard," it said.

The Coast Guard officials had confirmed on Friday that the boat found by Mumbai Coast Guard was from Porbandar.

They had also revealed to Jungi and other members of Porbandar fishing community that the body of captain of the ship was found from boat, they added.

Source : DNA