Somali pirates placed under arrest in Mumbai

Fifteen Somali and Ethiopian pirates apprehended by the Indian Navy after a gunbattle off the Lakshadweep coast while trying to loot a foreign merchant vessel were on Monday placed under arrest and would face the Indian law for the first time.

The pirates -- 14 Somali and an Ethiopian -- have been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 307 (attempt to murder) and 363 (kidnapping), besides the Passport Act, Deputy Police Commissioner Khalid Kaisar said.

"Perhaps it is for the first time that Somali pirates will face the Indian law," the DCP said.

According to police, the pirates had launched an attack on MV Verdi, a merchant vessel flagged from Bahamas, on the high seas on Friday. Spotting the two skiffs approaching the vessel fast, the crew alerted the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre on radio seeking help, the DCP said.

"In a joint operation by the navy and Mumbai and Kochi Coast Guard, a Dornier was flown to the spot after which the skiffs changed direction and moved towards another vessel Prantalay," Kaisar said.

Prantalay, with Thai and Myanmarese nationals on board, had been hijacked by the pirates a few months ago and the victims held hostage.  

After a few hours' chase, Indian Navy's fast attack craft Cankarso closed in on Prantalay and tried to establish contact on the international mercantile radio but in vain, Kaisar said. A warning shot was fired from INS Cankarso to stop Prantalay and the pirates retaliated.

Finally, the officials of the navy and Coast Guard managed to catch the pirates, who were first taken to Kochi and brought to Mumbai on onday where they were arrested. The pirates would be interrogated by officials from the navy, police and intelligence agencies, he said.

Meanwhile, the Thai and Myanmarese crew members of the hijacked ship are being taken to Kochi for questioning after which they would be sent back to their homes.