Combating piracy is top most priority of Indian Navy, Coast Guard: Antony

Bangalore, Feb 7 (ANI): Defence Minister A K Antony on Monday said that combating piracy is the top most priority of Indian Navy and Coast Guard.

While inaugurating the Aero Show 2011 here, Antony said that the major cause of worry for him is that whether these pirates have any links with terrorist groups or not.

"We feel because of our experience apart from the Somalian pirates, there may be some other agents or source or force helping these pirates. This is the cause of worry for us. We will go to the roots of this and combating piracy is one of the top most priorities of Indian Navy and Coast Guard," he said.

Antony further assured that the Indian Navy and Coast Guard will take all the necessary measures to prevent pirates' attack in the future.

"Since last year there is a series of piracy, nearly 14 or 15 incidences have taken place in that area. After that Indian Navy and Coast Guard took a decision to strengthen their operation in the area near Lakshadweep. That is why in the last one month (Indian) Navy and Coast Guard were able to save two serious attempts of piracy," said Antony.

"Now, I can assure you that Indian Navy and Coast Guard will concentrate in those areas near Lakshadweep as well as other coast nearby our areas. We will take maximum care so that we can prevent this kind of piracy," he added.

In a major coordinated operation, the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard personnel apprehended a pirate mother ship Prantlaya 11 along with 28 Somali pirates in the Arabian Sea.

The ship was apprehended about 100 nautical miles off the coast of Lakshadweep Islands near Kavaratti on Sunday.

The Western Naval Command of the Indian Navy received inputs from its warships on Saturday that a Greek-flagged merchant ship MV Chios had experienced a concerted attack from pirates using high-speed skiffs about 100 nautical miles west off Kavaratti islands.

The Indian Navy also rescued 24 Thai fishermen, who were being held hostage aboard the trawler. By Jaipal Sharma (ANI)