New Delhi: Senior Coast Guard officer DIG B.K. Loshali has been asked to reply to a showcause notice sent to him on Thursday regarding the statement he made about the Coast Guard blowing up a Pakistan boat on December 31.

The Coast Guard also defended the earlier interception of the boat, saying it was a professionally-conducted operation.

Sensing a golden opportunity, Pakistan too jumped into the fray and accused India of being “heinous” and violating international law.

India, however, feels very differently, with government sources having indicated from the start that the four men on board the boat were terror suspects.

Read: ‘Terror’ boat row: Proven that India has violated international rules, says Pakistan defence minister

But, despite the Indian government’s strong reiteration of its earlier stance, the DIG’s comments raised serious question on whether the suspects were petty smugglers and excessive use of force was used, or whether the Coast Guard DIG was merely indulging in an idle boast and loose talk.

“I hope you remember 31st December night.We blew off (sic) the Pakistan (boat). We have blown them off (sic). I was there at Gandhinagar and I told our guys ‘blow the boat off. We don’t want to serve them biryani’?,” DIG Loshali said in Surat, comments that were picked up in a media report.

Read: Pak terror boat operation not headed by DIG Loshali: Coast Guard Deputy DG

In Bengaluru, defence minister Parrikar said, “The defence ministry stands by what it has said earlier in writing ... If any news channel shows that he has said that, I will enquire and find out, but we stand by our statement.

“Normally, I could have just brushed away the question, but I want to be very clear. If someone tomorrow makes a statement which is incorrect, at the most you are making a case of disciplinary proceedings against him. We will take action against the person, if required ... after making a proper inquiry,” he said.

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