Navy to work for release of hostage Indian sailors

The Navy will take whatever action is required to get released Indian sailors being held hostage by pirates in a ship off the coast of Kenya, Navy chief admiral Sureesh Mehta said on Friday.

"We will take whatever action is required to see that they get released," he told reporters.

Asked about the number of hostages on board MV Alpha Manyara, Mehta said, "I am not aware if there were any Kenyans on board but according to the reports, which I have seen, the boat had an Indian captain, an engineer and one more person and there may be some other fishermen."

Giving details, he said the incident took place "well outside the Gulf... it is fishing boat, which has been operating as a Kenyan fishing boat for many months."

He said Indian ships deployed in the Gulf of Aden did not go for patrolling near the Kenyan coast.

"There is no patrolling that goes so far South and Kenya has always been well out of the Arabian gulf region," Mehta said during his visit to the annual NCC Republic Day Camp.

The merchant vessel was hijacked on January 9.