A vessel from the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) is en route to an area where Indian military personnel are believed to have boarded a Maldivian fishing boat.

MNDF said they got the information that foreign military personnel boarded a Maldivian fishing boat while it was inside the Maldives Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Adhadhu understands that the Indian military personnel boarded the Asurumaa 3 fishing boat from Alif Dhaal Mahibadhoo.

“The MNDF is investigating a report that a boarding team of a foreign military vessel boarded a Maldivian fishing boat while in the EEZ,” the military said.

"An MNDF coast guard vessel is currently traveling to the area."

Asurumaa 3 fishing boat.

The manager of the Asurumaa 3 boat told Adhadhu that two Indian ships had been surrounding the boat since 2:30 pm. The soldiers, who disembarked from the Indian ships, boarded the fishing boat and repeatedly asked if they were using a satellite phone, he said.

"We have been contacting the boat since 2.30 pm today. We have done everything to connect the boat with the Coast Guard. The boat said there were two Indian ships near it. They are onboard the boat."

The Indian troops have searched the boat, the boat manager said.

"The head fisherman said they have asked questions and are searching the boat. They are asking if the boat has the Thuraya satellite phone. It is not illegal to use the Thuraya phone in the Maldives. The boat does not even have a Thuraya phone. That boat has a device installed by Ooredoo," he added.