Eight Somali nationals suspected to be pirates, who were apprehended by the security agencies have been brought to Kochi for further interrogation.
Flag officer Commanding of the Southern Naval command Vice Admiral K N Sushi in the sidelines of a function said that the arrested Somali nationals could be pirates, however he said that it could not be ascertained at the moment as these persons were off the Lakshwadeep coast. The Somalis were handed over to the harbor police in Kochi. They were taken to Ernakulam general hospital for a medical check up and sources in the security agencies indicated that they would be further interrogated after their medical report is obtained.
Vice Admiral Sushil told reporters that the Somali's have shifted their piracy operations to the Mauritian and Sychelles coasts and may be coming upward . He also said that there were 13 incidents of piracy within 400 miles of the Lakshawadeep coast. He also said that these people could not be termed pirates as of now and added that they were found in a situation of starvation in an abandoned boat.
