Sikh_warrior
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NEW DELHI: Somali pirates were brought by the dozen to Mumbai as trophies of India's aggressive fight against piracy in recent times. But no more, officials told TOI.
The government has effected a policy shift in its anti-piracy operations, asking Navy not to arrest any more pirates, and also not to bring them to India's mainland. The government fears that its aggressive operations, especially the arrest of pirates and their incarceration in Mumbai, may have backfired. Somali pirates are retaliating against India's proactive stand by targeting Indian sailors, the security establishment believes. Presently, 43 Indian sailors are in the custody of pirates.
The situation is worrying for India, given the fact that over 10% of total seafarers working for shipping companies around the world are Indians. "We believe they are retaliating. Recently, while rest of their colleagues was released, seven Indians on a particular ship were taken to Somalia. We are still waiting to hear from them," a senior official said.
Navy sources said this new policy shift would stay at least till all Indians in pirates' custody were released. Confirming that the "policy nudge" was already in place, another source said that during the last operation off the southern coast three weeks ago, the Navy did not arrest pirates.
Navy's present strategy is to disarm pirates of "piracy triggers", items such as rope, ladder, arms and ammunition that are used in piracy, and force them out of Indian waters. "Hold, disarm and leave," an officer described the strategy.
The policy shift comes at a time when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called on the UN to take the lead in developing a "comprehensive and effective response" to piracy. Piracy also figures on top of the PM's agenda during his ongoing Africa visit.
A senior official in another agency said the Indian approach towards piracy itself was being recast and not just because of pirates targeting Indian sailors. He said the pirates in Mumbai were of "no value at all" to security agencies. "They are neither terrorists nor are they of any other value to us. So we have booked them under Arms Act and violations of other Indian laws. We will have to take care of them now," he said.
India not to arrest any more pirates - The Times of India
The government has effected a policy shift in its anti-piracy operations, asking Navy not to arrest any more pirates, and also not to bring them to India's mainland. The government fears that its aggressive operations, especially the arrest of pirates and their incarceration in Mumbai, may have backfired. Somali pirates are retaliating against India's proactive stand by targeting Indian sailors, the security establishment believes. Presently, 43 Indian sailors are in the custody of pirates.
The situation is worrying for India, given the fact that over 10% of total seafarers working for shipping companies around the world are Indians. "We believe they are retaliating. Recently, while rest of their colleagues was released, seven Indians on a particular ship were taken to Somalia. We are still waiting to hear from them," a senior official said.
Navy sources said this new policy shift would stay at least till all Indians in pirates' custody were released. Confirming that the "policy nudge" was already in place, another source said that during the last operation off the southern coast three weeks ago, the Navy did not arrest pirates.
Navy's present strategy is to disarm pirates of "piracy triggers", items such as rope, ladder, arms and ammunition that are used in piracy, and force them out of Indian waters. "Hold, disarm and leave," an officer described the strategy.
The policy shift comes at a time when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called on the UN to take the lead in developing a "comprehensive and effective response" to piracy. Piracy also figures on top of the PM's agenda during his ongoing Africa visit.
A senior official in another agency said the Indian approach towards piracy itself was being recast and not just because of pirates targeting Indian sailors. He said the pirates in Mumbai were of "no value at all" to security agencies. "They are neither terrorists nor are they of any other value to us. So we have booked them under Arms Act and violations of other Indian laws. We will have to take care of them now," he said.
India not to arrest any more pirates - The Times of India
