All the nine Somalians apprehended in a recent anti-piracy operation have been handed over to the Mumbai police, the Navy said in a release on Thursday.
They were brought to India on April 3, days after the Navy arrested them for hijacking an Iranian fishing vessel with 23 Pakistani crew members off the Somalia coast, a Navy official said.
“Robust action taken by the Indian Navy warships INS Trishul and INS Sumedha during the anti-piracy operations in the east of Somalia on March 29, 2024. The operation had resulted in successful rescue of fishing vessel Al Kambar and its crew of 23 Pakistani nationals. All the nine pirates involved in piracy were apprehended for further transit to India,” Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said in a statement.
Mr. Madhwal added, “INS Trishul arrived at Mumbai on April 3 and handed over all the nine pirates to the local police for further legal action in accordance with the Indian laws, specifically the Maritime Anti-Piracy Act, 2022. Indian Navy reaffirms its resolve to safeguard all merchant shipping and seafarers transiting in the Indian Ocean Region irrespective of their nationality.”
Those arrested 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.
Further investigation is on to verify their age and documents.
One of the accused was remanded in police custody till April 8. The remaining were sent to 14-day judicial custody, the police said.
