Friday, January 16, 2009

Somali pirates seize three Indians, navy to take action

New Delhi, Jan 16 (IANS) Three Indians are being held hostage by Somali pirates on board a Kenyan fishing vessel in the Gulf of Aden since Jan 9, the Indian Navy said Friday while assuring that action would be taken to free them.The ship, M V Alpha Manyara, was taken over by the pirates near the Kenyan coast. It is also believed to have had Kenyan sailors on board who are said to have been released by the pirates.

“It is a fishing boat that Kenyans have been operating from Kenya. An Indian engineer, captain and sailor are on board. We will take whatever action is required to see that they are released at the earliest,” Indian Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta told reporters here.

A relative of one of the Indians being held hostage said the pirates were holding the Indians after setting free eight Kenyan sailors.

The incident comes two months after Somali pirates hijacked the Stolt Valor vessel with 22 crewmembers including 18 Indians off the Yemeni coast Sep 15. Eventually all the Indians were freed.


Navy will rescue Indian hostages: Adm. Mehta

The Navy Chief, Admiral Suresh Mehta says the Navy will take required action to release the Indian sailors being held hostage. They have been held hostage by Somali pirates after they hijacked a ship off the coast of Kenya on the 9th of this month. Admiral Suresh Mehta was talking to reporters in New Delhi on Friday morning during his visit to the NCC Parade. Asked about the number of hostages , he said three Indian's including the captain of the ship were on board. Reports say, 11 members of the crew were in the ship when it was hijacked. Except three Indian's all of them, who were Kenyans have been set free. Giving details, he said the incident took place well outside the Gulf. Admiral Mehta said that Indian ships deployed in the Gulf of Aden did not go for patrolling near the Kenyan coast. Earlier, a vessel owned by a Japanese company was released by the Somalia pirates on 16th November setting free 18 Indian sailors.

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