A big tank-like buoy, with used tyres tied around it with iron chains, was found washed ashore off Kanjirankudi near Tirupullani, creating a flutter, and the Marine Police of the Coastal Security Guard (CSG) seized it and registered a case.
Local people panicked after sighting the ‘mysterious’ object floating on the sea on Sunday morning and alerted the police. A Marine Police team, led by Inspector of Police P.S. Ramesh Kumar, and Sub-Inspector of Police Palraj, retrieved and brought the cylindrical object to the shore.
On examination, the Marine Police found that it was a buoy used as fender in harbours to prevent big vessels from dashing against the jetty when they were anchored there. It would have come from Tuticorin port, said Mr. Ramesh Kumar.
The 12x7 size blackish buoy weighed 1.5 tonne, he said, adding there was nothing alarming in the seizure. The Marine Police had registered a case under Section 102 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Police seizing any property which may be alleged or suspected to have been stolen or may be found under circumstances which create suspicion of commission of any offence).
The Marine Police had taken possession of the buoy, which was still kept on the shore near Mahan Bakkir Appa Dargah. It would be brought to the nearest police station in the next couple of days, the Inspector said.
“We expect someone from Tuticorin port to stake a claim for the buoy in the next few days,” he said.
