CHENNAI: The police have launched a search operation for a 29-year-old fisherman who went missing from a mechanized boat in the Bay of Bengal on Thursday afternoon.

A missing person complaint was filed by the man's father at the Fishing Harbour Police Station.

According to the complaint, Dineshkumar (29), son of Kuppan, a resident of Jeevarathinam Nagar Housing Board in Kasimedu, was part of a 12-member fishing crew. The group departed from the Kasimedu fishing harbour at 8:30 am on December 25 in the mechanized boat owned by one Peter Paul.

Dineshkumar, an unmarried fisherman by profession, was reportedly under the influence of alcohol and was last seen sitting on the fishing net at the rear of the boat around 1:45 pm. When the crew checked later, he was nowhere to be found. An immediate search on the vessel proved futile.

The crew informed the boat owner, and upon returning to the Kasimedu shore in the evening, Dineshkumar's father, Kuppan (58), approached the police. The complaint was formally lodged at 6:30 pm.

"The complaint has been registered, and we are investigating the matter thoroughly. Searches are being conducted," said Investigating Officer.

The Marine Police and other relevant authorities are expected to be involved in the ongoing search operations. The police are interviewing the other crew members to piece together the exact sequence of events leading to Dineshkumar's disappearance.