Hostage crisis: Navy rushes warship to Somali coast
April 18th, 2011 - 5:13 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, April 18 (IANS) With seven Indian sailors still being held hostage by pirates despite payment of ransom, the navy has placed one of its warships on high alert and sent it from anti-piracy patrol duties in the Gulf of Aden to the Somali coast.
Navy sources said here Monday that the Talwar-class frigate — already in the vicinity of the piracy crisis — was rushed in an offensive posturing and may see some military action to rescue the hostages.
The pirates, who released eight other Indian sailors of cargo ship MV Asphalt Venture held hostage since September last, have reportedly sought to use the seven hostages as lever to seek release of over 120 of their comrades being held in prisons in India after they were captured by the navy in the Indian Ocean in the last six months.
The navy was, however, unwilling to divulge details of the mandate given to the warship that has positioned itself off the Somali coast with regard to the current hostage crisis.
India’s military move comes at a time when MV Asphalt Venture owners, who have paid an undisclosed amount as ransom, expressed “deep disappointment” over the Somali pirates not keeping their word. They have been appealing to the pirates to release the vessel’s remaining seven Indian sailors as promised when the ransom demand was made.
According to Somalia Report, a news service from the African nation, the pirates were reportedly angry at the $3.5 million ransom amount, which was lower than what they expected and were holding the remaining crew members hostage to extract more money.
The Indian Navy has captured 120 Somali pirates during its anti-piracy operations in the waters off the Horn of Africa and Lakshadweep Islands in the last six months. The biggest capture was of 61 Somali pirates last month after a mother ship, Vega 5, was apprehended.
According to latest figures, 53 Indian sailors are being held hostage on five different ships. Of them, 17 have been held for the longest on MT Savina Caylyn, an Italian ship which was seized Feb 8, 2010.
- Indian Navy warship deployed near Somali coast to free sailors - Apr 19, 2011
- Ship owners ask Somali pirates to release seven Indians (Lead) - Apr 17, 2011
- Somali pirates free 8 Indian crew, 7 still held hostage (Lead) - Apr 16, 2011
- India rules out military intervention in sailors hostage crisis - Apr 19, 2011
- Trying to contact pirates with 7 Indians: Ship owners - Apr 17, 2011
- Indians freed by Somali pirates reach Kenya - Apr 28, 2011
- Shrill media voices adversely affecting Somalian hostage crisis - Mar 12, 2011
- Ship with 20 Indian crew members hijacked, freed - Jan 10, 2012
- Sailors' rescue in India's hands, say hijacked ship's owners - May 06, 2011
- Back channel efforts on for Indian sailors' release (Second Lead) - Mar 10, 2011
- 53 Indian sailors in pirate-custody, back-channel talks on (Lead) - Mar 10, 2011
- 53 Indian sailors still under Somali pirates captivity - Mar 10, 2011
- India for strong measures to combat pirates - Apr 20, 2011
- India rejects Somali pirates swap offer - Apr 18, 2011
- India wants UN anti-piracy resolution to mention hostage plight - Apr 08, 2011
Tags: african nation, being held hostage, cargo ship, crew members, frigate, gulf of aden, horn of africa, hostage crisis, indian navy, lakshadweep islands, military move, mother ship, navy sources, ransom demand, sailors, somali coast, somali pirates, somalia report, venture owners, warships