4 ▁January ▁ 1 9 9 3 ▁two ▁coast ▁guard ▁ships , ▁the ▁CG S ▁V ive k ▁and ▁IN S ▁Kir pan , ▁intercept ed ▁the ▁A hat ▁and ▁esc orted ▁it ▁towards ▁the ▁Indian ▁coast . ▁According ▁to ▁a ▁third ▁account , ▁the ▁A hat ▁was ▁intercept ed ▁by ▁the ▁Indian ▁n avy ▁on ▁ 1 3 ▁January ▁ 1 9 9 3 . ▁Three ▁days ▁later , ▁ 7 0 0   km ▁south - east ▁of ▁Mad ras , ▁the ▁L T TE ▁allowed ▁the ▁crew ▁to ▁leave ▁the ▁A hat ▁after ▁which ▁they ▁ble w ▁up ▁the ▁ship . ▁According ▁to ▁a ▁fourth ▁account , ▁which ▁was ▁supported ▁by ▁the ▁L T TE , ▁the ▁A hat ▁was ▁intercept ed ▁by ▁the ▁Indian ▁n avy ▁on ▁ 1 3 ▁January ▁ 1 9 9 3 ▁in ▁international ▁waters ▁about ▁ 2 9 0 ▁miles ▁east ▁of ▁Hamb ant ota . ▁ ▁According ▁to ▁the ▁official ▁Indian ▁military ▁version , ▁the ▁A hat ▁was ▁sp otted ▁on ▁ 6 ▁January ▁ 1 9 9 3 ▁in ▁Indian ▁exclusive ▁economic ▁zone ▁waters , ▁acting ▁susp ici ously ▁and ▁changing ▁course ▁frequently . ▁The ▁Indian ▁coast ▁guard ▁and ▁n avy ▁shadow ed ▁the ▁A hat ▁and ▁on ▁making ▁radio ▁contact , ▁found ▁out ▁that ▁the ▁ship ▁was ▁carrying ▁arms , ▁am mun ition ▁and ▁explos ives ▁for ▁the ▁L T TE . ▁After ▁being ▁surrounded ▁by ▁the ▁Indian ▁n avy , ▁the ▁crew ▁set ▁the ▁ship , ▁which ▁was ▁about ▁