Indian Navy hands over 9 Somali pirates to Mumbai Police

The Mumbai Police received nine pirates apprehended by the Indian Navy in an operation conducted east of Somalia last week, as stated by the Navy on Thursday.

Indian warships INS Trishul and INS Sumedha carried out a major operation in the high seas on March 29 that resulted in successful rescue of fishing vessel Al Kambar and its crew of 23 Pakistani nationals.

The Navy said all nine pirates involved in piracy were apprehended in that operation.

Also Read: The Katchatheevu Conundrum: A Persistent Political Dispute

Legal Action Against Apprehended in Mumbai

“INS Trishul arrived at Mumbai on April 3 and handed over all nine pirates to the local police for further legal action in accordance with the Indian laws, specifically the Maritime Anti-Piracy Act 2022,” Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said.

“Indian Navy reaffirms its resolve to safeguard all merchant shipping and seafarers transiting in Indian Ocean Region irrespective of their nationality,” it said.

The Mumbai police registered a case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Maritime Anti-Piracy Act, the Passports Act and the Foreigners Act against the pirates and placed them under arrest, the official said, reported PTI.

Also Read: जापान ने भारत सहित कई देशों के लिए शुरू की ई-वीज़ा सर्विस

Somali Pirates Apprehended and Brought to Mumbai for Legal Proceedings

The arrested pirates were identified as Gelie Jama Farah (50), Ahmed Bashir Omar (42), Abdikarin Mohmmad Shire (34), Adan Hasan Warmase (44), Mohammed Abdi Ahmed (34), Abdikadir Mohmmad Ali (28), Aydid Mohmud Jimale (30), Said Yasin Adan (25) and Jama Said Elmi (18), the police said, reported PTI.

The pirates were able to speak only in their native Somali language and help of translators will be taken to communicate with them during questioning, the official said, reported PTI. The arrested Somalian pirates will be produced before a Mumbai court on Thursday, he said.

The latest action comes two weeks after the Navy rescued another vessel, freed 17 hostages, and captured 35 armed pirates in a nearly 40-hour dramatic mid-sea operation off the Somalia coast. These 35 pirates were also brought to Mumbai and placed under arrest by the police.

Also Read: Swiggy Instamart VP and head SCM Karan Arora steps down