'India should ask UN to deploy warships off Somalia'

MUMBAI: India should ask United Nations (UN) to deploy warships of member nations off Somalia waters, plagued by incessant cases of ship hijacks by pirates, All India Port and Dock Workers' Federation has said.     
 
"I have written a letter to Defence Minister A K Antony, suggesting that we should convince UN to deploy multi-nation warships to rid the Somalian waters of the pirate menace," Federation president S R Kulkarni said on Thursday.
    
"Indian warships, their officers and crew have demonstrated exemplary work by foiling hijack bid near Somalia and they deserve our congratulations," Kulkarni said.
      
Kulkarni mentioned the "quick action" taken by Navy's 'Chetak' chopper, manned by marine commandos, who opened fire with their automatic weapons at the pirates trying to board a ship.
      
"I have drawn the Government's attention to the unrest in Ghana several years ago and how the UN deployed member nations' peace-keeping force there. A similar resolution can be passed by UN to rid the pirate menace off Somalia which is a threat to lives and property of our sailors," Kulkarni said.