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HOSTAGE INCLUDE SEAFARERS FROM SAURASHTRA AND KUTCH; THE INCIDENT OCCURRED BETWEEN SOMALIA AND UAE.

      NAIROBI/ NEW DELHI/ AHMEDABAD: In the biggest hijacking ever, somali, pirates have captured eight boats taking over 120 indian  sailors hostage. The sailors were on their way from somalia to Dubai.

     The pirates seized the dhows of Indian sailors between March 23 and 25, off the coast of somalia. Some sailors belong to the saurashtra and kutch regions of Gujarat. Navy spokesman P B S Satish said that they learnt of the hijackings on Monday “The captain of a recently released fishing boat - MV Arzoo, told the authorities that several other boats had been seized by pirates,” he said.

      “This information was received as a report from MV Arzoo, which was comandeered by some pirates,” satish said. The MV Arzoo, was seized be tween March 18 and 20 before being released near seychelles.

      The vessels are belived to have been moving goods between somalia and the United Arab Emirates.

      The sailors had anchored last in the rebel territory of Kismayo in Somalia where they loaded cargo into their boats. But moments after leaving the port pirates captured them. so far, the pirates have not asked for any ranson.

      Satish said the Indian Navy was also working with Indian shipping authorities for more information on the hijackings. somali pirates, targeting one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes, raked in an estimated 60 million dollars in ransoms last year.

     NAVY SEEKS REPORT

    Meanwhile, the Indian Navy has sought a detailed report from the Director General of shipping on the reported abduction, of 120 Indian sailors off the somali coast.

    “We have heard about the reported abduction of 120 Indian sailors and have sought a report on this from the Director General of Shipping,” an Indian Navy officer said on Tuesday.

    On Monday, a maritime official in Mombasa was quoted as saying that somail pirates had seized a UAE-Owned cargo ship with 24 crew in the waters off Somalia .

    Andrew Mwangura of the East African seafarers’ Assistance programme said the 4,500 tonne panamanianflagged Iceberg I, owned by Iceberg International Ltd, was carrying general mechanical equipment from Aden to the UAE, The Icerberg I crew was composed of Indians, Yemenis, Filipinos, pakistanis, Ghanaians and Sudanese, Mwangura said. He said the seizure took place about 10 nautical miles from Aden.