NEW DELHI: The Centre on Friday informed the Supreme Court that Somali pirates were still holding seven Indian seafarers as hostage and that it was holding extensive talks with the new Somali regime as well as neighbours of the terror ravaged country to seek their early release.
In an affidavit, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) said Panama merchant vessel ‘Asphalt Venture’, with 15 Indian crew members, was hijacked by Somali pirates on September 29, 2010. The ship, along with eight Indians, was released on April 16, 2011, but the pirates kept seven as hostage.
“The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime was key in facilitating the release in coordination with ministry of shipping and MEA and assistance provided by high commission of India, Nairobi,” it said.
To deal with kidnapping of seafarers on hijacked ships by Somali pirates, the Centre said it has set up an Inter-Ministerial Group of officers under the ministry of shipping headed by the additional secretary. “IMG has members representing all concerned ministries and agencies and meets regularly to deal with the situation of Indian hostages who are in captivity of Somali pirates,” it said.
The Centre said the new political dispensation in Somalia was in the process of taking effective control of the geographical extent of the country. It said till that happened, the government there would not be able to effectively deal with piracy issues and release of hostages. “The new regime’s role is expected to increase gradually,” it said.
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