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On Saturday, the country's maritime forces, comprising the Indian Navy and Coast Guard, thwarted yet another piracy attempt by Somali pirates to the west of Lakshadweep islands. They have captured 16 pirates and rescued 16 crew from the mother vessel used for attack.
According to a Navy spokesperson, on receiving a distress message from the merchant vessel Maersk Kensington of a foiled pirate attack, the maritime rescue co-ordination centre alerted the ships patrolling the area. A maritime reconnaissance aircraft, which was on patrol, located the suspected pirate vessel and facilitated homing Indian Navy vessel INS Suvarna to intercept the pirate vessel. Coast Guard Ship ICGS Sangram , also on patrol, was diverted for the operations.
This is the latest instance where the Indian maritime force has captured Somali pirates. The Indian Navy and Coast Guard as part of ‘Operation Island Watch' have been maintaining surveillance off the Lakshadweep islands over the past several months, resulting in the capture of a large number of pirates and release of several hostages.
The captured vessel was identified as Morteza , an Iranian trawler hijacked by the pirates and used as the mother vessel for piracy operations.
Pirates in custody
Earlier this month, two Indian Navy warships intercepted a pirate mother-ship, Vega 5, about 600 nautical miles off India's western coast.
An exchange of fire ensued, causing a blaze on the pirate vessel and forcing the pirates and original crew members on board to jump into the water. 61 Pirates were caught in the operation and 13 fishermen were rescued.
Nearly 100 pirates and crew were brought to Mumbai this month alone. This would pose a major problem for police. They are not sure how to deal with foreign nationals or under what law the pirates could be tried. In the latest case, 12 hostages are Iranians and four are Pakistanis.
Piracy has become a major issue in international shipping. Maritime nations are now debating how to tackle this growing menace. For India, this is a major issue as the country is a major supplier of seafarers to the world.
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