BJP demands CBI probe into 5-year-old ship capsize incident

BHUBANESWAR: Five years after the Black Rose ship carrying iron ore fines sank in the sea near Paradip, BJP today demanded a CBI probe into the incident.

"We demand a thorough investigation by CBI into the incident in which Black Rose vessel sank close to Paradip port five years ago," senior BJP leader Bijay Mohapatra told reporters here.

The party would soon submit a memorandum to the Union Shipping Minister in this regard, Mohapatra said.

Since it was a foreign vessel, the inquiry involved a lot of probing which the state police were not in a position to conduct properly, he said.

Mohapatra said he, therefore, agreed with BJD leader and Odisha Minister Damodar Rout's recent suggestion for a CBI inquiry into the Black Rose episode.

Referring to the crime branch investigation into the case, the BJP leader said the chargesheet filed by it recently named the Singapore based owner of the ship as the prime accused.

But strangely, the Crime Branch has not even interrogated owners or directors of two the firms which were involved in the loading of the iron ore fines, he claimed and alleged the crime branch probe sought to protect some ruling BJD people.

Mohapatra alleged that though the Mongolian flagged Black Rose did not have any valid licence or insurance documents, the vessel was allowed to dock in the port and two firms of Odisha dispatched iron ore fines.

While the vessel capsized on September 9, 2009, its registration was valid only up to April, 2009. After it capsized, it was found that the certificate was meant for another sister ship.

The BJP leader said the Crime Branch did not inquire to ascertain names of the companies involved in selling and buying the iron ore fines.