Earlier, Southern Naval Command Flag Officer Commanding in Chief Vice Admiral K N Sushil told reporters that the Somalians have have not yet been identified as pirates.
Eight Somalians taken into custody by Indian Navy off Kavaratti coast, were handed over to police today for further questioning but they have not yet been identified as pirates.
Harbour police said the Somalians have been taken to the general hospital for medical check up and some of them were weak. One Somalian, who can speak a bit of English, said they were fishermen, police said.
Cases under sect 14 A(D) of Foreigners Act has been registered against them.
A decision on when to begin questioning them would be taken only after their medical examination, police said.
Earlier, Southern Naval Command Flag Officer Commanding in Chief Vice Admiral K N Sushil told reporters that the Somalians have have not yet been identified as pirates.
"Till now we have not identified them as pirates. They are Somalian nationals found abandoned," he said.
"We have been observing that due to increased patrolling along the Somalian coast, pirates had shifted their activities from the Somalian coast to Mauritius and Seychelles. Now they are moving upwards. Earlier, there have been 13 incidents of piracy within 400 m of Lakshadweep, Sushil said.
Navy, Coastguard and Lakshadweep police had launched
intense combing operations in the Lakshadweep waters after
three Somalians landed at Minicoy island in Lakshadweep three
days ago after abandoning their boat. They were too weak to
talk or walk and have been hospitalised at Minicoy government
hospital.
The combing operations were launched in the waters around Lakshadweep Islands following reports of a suspicious boat being sighted about five km off Minicoy Island on May 26.
Following the search, the abandoned boat was found. Subsequently, three Somalians were found in an unconscious
state at the Northern end of Minicoy Island. A fourth Somalian
is believed to have drowned.
Yesterday, few other Somalians in a boat were found in
the Lakshadweep waters and they are being brought to Kochi.
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