Journalists held for entering restricted zone near docked Iranian warship in Kochi

Kochi: A Republic TV reporter, cameraman, and a boat driver were arrested after allegedly attempting to capture footage near an Iranian warship docked in Kochi.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Republic TV reporter Shankar, cameraman Mani, and Radhakrishnan, the driver of the boat in which they were travelling.

According to police, the journalists had attempted to film IRIS Lavan, an Iranian warship currently docked near the Mattancherry wharf. Their attempt to enter a restricted zone and record footage was noticed by security personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

CISF officials took the three individuals into custody and later handed them over to the police. The cameras used by the journalists have also been seized.

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Police said the reporter and cameraman had hired a boat from Marine Drive in an attempt to approach the Iranian vessel and capture footage. Authorities added that the three individuals were detained for entering a restricted area without permission. The police further stated that the accused will be produced before a court.

The Iranian vessel had docked in Kochi on 4 March. According to sources cited by AFP, a total of 183 crew members from IRIS Lavan have since been accommodated at naval facilities in the city.

The development comes amid heightened tensions in the Indian Ocean region following reports that the United States sank another Iranian warship, IRIS Dena, near Sri Lanka. The vessel was reportedly hit by a torpedo fired from a US submarine.

Meanwhile, another Iranian warship, IRIS Bushehr, has docked in Sri Lanka after requesting assistance while anchored outside the country’s waters, according to Sri Lankan authorities.