India Investigates Hijackings Off
Somalia Coast
Indian
authorities are investigating reports that several boats, with
more than one hundred sailors aboard, have been taken over by
Somali pirates off the African coast.
India's navy Commander, P.V.S. Satish, said that crew members of
an Indian vessel, released by Somali pirates this week, observed
that at least eight more fishing vessels with Indian sailors had
been hijacked by pirates in the last few days.
Satish said the shipping authorities have been asked to
investigate whether any Indian boats have gone missing and taken
over by Somali pirates.
On Monday, pirates seized a ship with 24 crew members off the
port of Aden and Mogadishu traders said seven additional vessels
headed for the Somali capital Mogadishu had been hijacked over
the past two days.
Indian officials said they were trying to verify whether those
were Indian vessels.
Somali pirates regularly attack Indian vessels and this month
Indian navy commandos thwarted a suspected pirate attack on a
Greek bulk carrier off the Indian coast.
REUTERS/Williams
