Sleuths of the RAW, anti-terrorist squad, and central and state intelligence bureaus have been jointly interrogating the nine pirates.
An Iranian ship hijacked by Somali pirates was intercepted by the Indian navy on Monday off the Mumbai coast and nine suspected pirates were arrested. Sleuths of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), anti-terrorist squad, and central and state intelligence bureaus have been jointly interrogating the nine pirates.
"The Indian navy had located the ship on Monday and captured the crew members who are believed to be pirates. Navy personnel have also seized two AK-47 rifles, a 9-mm pistol, 60 rounds of ammunition and some foreign currency," the police said.
The Iranian cargo vessel, MNV Nafiz, was then brought by the Navy to Porbandar. "Preliminary investigation has revealed that the pirates were drifting at sea for the last two days because they were unable to find the correct direction. All the crew members are being interrogated," said Dipen Bhandram, SP, Porbandar police.
This is the fourth incident in the last few months in which pirates or foreign nationals have landed on the ever-sensitive Saurashtra coast. However, this is the first time investigating agencies have recovered firearms and currency from an intercepted ship's crew.
Pirates a threat to coastal security: AK Antony
Rajya Sabha member Parimal Nathwani on Wednesday raised in the house the issue of intrusion by Somali pirates in Indian waters. He further asked the central government what action had been taken to ensure security on the coast, particularly in the coastal regions of Gujarat.
Union defence minister AK Antony admitted that there had been some incidents of attempted piracy in the Arabian Sea off the Lakshadweep and Minicoy islands but they had been foiled by the Indian Navy.
In two separate incidents on June 19, 2011 and June 26, 2011, respectively, 38 persons were apprehended by the police off the Gujarat coast. Of these, 32 were people of Somali origin, Anthony stated. He conceded that piracy off the coast of Somalia had grown steadily over the years and was now a matter of serious concern.
The measures taken by the government to strengthen coastal security included improved surveillance mechanisms and enhanced patrolling, he said. He added that joint exercises by the navy, coast guard, coastal police, customs and other security agencies were conducted on a regular basis to check the effectiveness of the measures.
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