Maha may seek help from Centre to look after Somali pirates

Mumbai, Feb 21 (PTI) After a sudden spurt in captureof pirates off the west coast and their incarceration inMaharashtra, the state government wants the Centre to sharethe burden for their maintenance.

All the pirates captured in Indian waters off the westerncoast are booked by Yellow Gate police station in the city andthe state government alone has to bear the expenses towardsthem.

"We are planning to write a letter to the uniongovernment seeking financial support in the case of arrestedSomalian pirates," a senior Home Department official todaysaid.

The move comes in the wake of the arrest of 43 Somalianpirates since January at Lakshadweep.

The pirates are in judicial custody and their bailhearing is pending before the local court.