angeldemon_007
SENIOR MEMBER
The government gave a go-ahead to the navy on Tuesday to storm hijacked ships carrying Indians or Indian cargo.
The green signal comes even as the navy considers armed guards, akin to sky marshals, aboard merchant ships, to thwart hijack attempts. A final decision in this regard, however, rests with the ministries of defence, law and shipping.
Armed guards aboard merchant ships are not permitted by most countries, but of late Yemen and Malta have allowed the security measure considering the high rate of piracy on the high seas.
In cases where an Indian ship is carrying foreign crew and cargo, or a mix of Indian and foreign crew and cargo, standard operating procedures will be followed, the sources said.
The cabinet committee on security had last week considered intensifying diplomatic efforts, setting up an apex forum to monitor early release of Indian ships, cargo and crew, and formulation of suitable standard operating procedures for the navy in anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and Somalia.
Presently, apprehended pirates are tried under IPC as there is no separate law to deal with them. The government is trying to overcome this problem, so that arrested pirates are tried for murder-attempt or damage to government property.
Navy can storm hijacked ships with Indians - India - DNA
The green signal comes even as the navy considers armed guards, akin to sky marshals, aboard merchant ships, to thwart hijack attempts. A final decision in this regard, however, rests with the ministries of defence, law and shipping.
Armed guards aboard merchant ships are not permitted by most countries, but of late Yemen and Malta have allowed the security measure considering the high rate of piracy on the high seas.
In cases where an Indian ship is carrying foreign crew and cargo, or a mix of Indian and foreign crew and cargo, standard operating procedures will be followed, the sources said.
The cabinet committee on security had last week considered intensifying diplomatic efforts, setting up an apex forum to monitor early release of Indian ships, cargo and crew, and formulation of suitable standard operating procedures for the navy in anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and Somalia.
Presently, apprehended pirates are tried under IPC as there is no separate law to deal with them. The government is trying to overcome this problem, so that arrested pirates are tried for murder-attempt or damage to government property.
Navy can storm hijacked ships with Indians - India - DNA
