Captured Somali pirates brought to Mumbai

MUMBAI - The 28 Somali pirates who had hijacked INS Prantalay-11 and were captured Sunday, were brought to Mumbai Thursday, an official said here.

Giving information on the operation where the 28 Somali pirates were captured, Inspector General of Coast Guard, S.P.S. Basra said the pirates were taken on board the Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Samar early Sunday.

During exchange of fire, three pirates sustained injuries, of whom one was in critical state. Immediate medical attention was provided by the doctor on board Samar and he is stable now, Basra said.

Further investigations revealed that the pirates were utilising INS Prantalay-11 for the past nine months and had last sailed on Jan 21. At the time of interception, just prior to surrendering, they (the pirates) threw their weapons overboard, which included 19 AK-47, 2 pistols, one rocket launcher and one shoulder launcher, he added.

Basra also said that three pirate attack groups are still active outside Indian waters.

Position of piracy attack groups, to the extent feasible, are being closely monitored by various authorities, Basra said.

The pirates were then handed over to the police shortly afterwards.

The 28 pirates who were captured early Sunday morning were first spotted at sea by a Dornier aircraft at about 8 p.m. Saturday.

On Jan 28, the navy and coast guard sank the Prantalay-14 some 200 nautical miles off Kochi. They arrested 12 Somalis, two Ethiopians and a Kenyan.