Tuticorin:
Five persons were arrested yesterday on charges of illegally supplying diesel to the US firm owned ship which allegedly entered Indian waters with arms, police sources said.
A local court in Tuticorin remanded them to judicial custody, they said, adding, that the five were sent to Palayamkottai jail in Tirunelveli, where the ship crew are lodged.
Tamil Nadu police had arrested all 35 crew members of MV Seaman Guard Ohio, impounded since October 12 for entering Indian territorial waters without authorisation and carrying arms and ammunition.
The ship reportedly had 35 assault rifles and around 5,680 rounds of ammunition on board, which were seized by the police.
An FIR was filed against 10 crew and 25 security guards of the vessel on October 14. Among the crew eight are Indians and two Ukranians.
The ship was intercepted by the Coast Guard in Indian waters on October 12 and an FIR was registered against 35 persons onboard under the Arms Act and Essential Commodities Act for buying 1,500 litres of diesel illegally with the help of a local shipping agent.