New Delhi: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday said "circumstantial evidence" indicates that the Pakistani boat, that was intercepted by Indian Coast Guard on New Year's night, had suspected terror links.

Dismissing claims that the occupants of boat were smugglers, the Minister said he would classify them as "suspected or possible terrorists" since they had committed suicide after being intercepted and added that they were in touch with Pakistani maritime officials, "army and international contacts".

Speaking to reporters, Parrikar said that, “I think they were suspected terrorists as they committed suicide, a normal boat even carrying drugs can surrender. The location was not normal sea route; even the smugglers normally take the busy route so that they can mingle with boats.”

Read: 26/11-style hit foiled: 4 ‘Pak terrorists’ die after setting bomb-laden boat afire

He also lauded the Coast Guards for acting promptly and averting any probable act of terrorism. His remarks came as questions were being raised on the veracity of claims that a 2008 Mumbai attack-style operation had been foiled. There were also reports claiming that the boat was involved in smuggling.

The Congress has asked the government to come clean on the matter leading to a slugfest with the ruling BJP which accused the former of providing "ammunition to Pakistan" and speaking their language besides playing "petty politics" on terror.

He said that there were no other boats in the vicinity and hence it was not a fishing area. Parrikar added that even smugglers of gold, drugs and other contraband normally take a busy route since it is easy to hide and mingle with other boats.

The fishing boat carrying explosives was intercepted by the Coast Guards in the Arabian Sea but the four occupants on board set the vessel afire and exploded it before it sank with them.

Read: Pakistan boat intercepted mid-sea, 26/11 like terror averted?

The incident, which resembled the operation undertaken by terrorists from Karachi who had come in a boat before they launched their dreaded attack in Mumbai in Novermber, 2008, took place during the midnight of Dec 31 and Jan 1 when the Coast Guard spotted the vessel about 8 km inside the Indian waters on the maritime boundary with Pakistan.

The hot pursuit continued for nearly one hour and the Coast Guard ship managed to stop the fishing boat after firing warning shots. Four persons were seen on the boat who disregarded all warnings by the Coast Guard ship to stop and cooperate with investigation, the statement said. Soon thereafter, the crew hid themselves in the deck compartment below and set the boat on fire, which resulted in an explosion and major fire on the boat, it said.

Read: Pak boat had 'costly cargo' to be moved to India, say intercepts

Ten terrorists involved in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack had reached Mumbai in a boat from Karachi in Pakistan. The attack had left 166 people dead.

The Coast Guard and other security agencies were maintaining high vigil in the maritime and coastal areas in the last couple of months due to several inputs on threat from the sea.