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India mulls protection for ships off Somalia |
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The Indian Navy has proposed conducting patrols off the Gulf of Aden and on the Somalian coast following increased incidents of piracy on high seas. According to sources in Mumbai, naval officials have put up the proposal before the Union Government after Somalian pirates captured a ship called Iran Deynat on August 21. The ship had four Indians as part of the crew.
The Navy’s proposal also envisages Indian defence personnel working under the UN flag on the basis of an agreement signed between the Somalian Government and the UN Security Council. Only the Canadian Navy is presently operating in this manner while Yemen’s Navy is expected to join in the operations shortly.
Two months ago, the Indian Navy was called upon to assist in the rescue of the crew of a Jordanian vessel, M.V. Victoria. The Indian Navy’s frigate, INS Delhi, was to have been sent on a rescue mission but the pirates had freed the ship and the crew by then.
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