Question : ARREST OF SOMALIAN PIRATES

(a) the details of action being taken by the Government to resist the constant piracy / robbery threats by Somalian pirates in the Indian Ocean;

(b) the number of Somalian pirates intercepted / arrested by the Indian Navy during the last three years and the current year;

(c) whether the Government proposes to set up Maritime Courts for giving powers of prosecution and detention to the Coast Guard and the Marine Police;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the other steps being taken or proposed to be taken by the Government for controlling piracy in the Indian Ocean?

MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI ARUN JAITLEY)

(a) The Indian Navy commenced anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden from October 2008. Since then 43 Indian Naval Ship deployments have been undertaken in the Gulf of Aden. A total of 2906 ships, including 2568 foreign flagged vessels from different countries, have been escorted by Indian Naval ships and 40 piracy attempts have been thwarted since October 2008. No ship under Indian escort has been hijacked by pirates.

(b) 120 Pirates were apprehended by Indian Navy in East Arabian Sea in 2011. There have been no interceptions / arrests during the last three years and the current year.

(c) & (d): At present Yellow Gate Police Station in Mumbai, Maharashtra and Kolkata Police Station in West Bengal have jurisdiction over all the crimes committed in International waters. Ministry of Home Affairs has written to all other Coastal States / Union Territories to notify one Coastal Police Station and one Trial Court each to deal with crimes committed in International waters.

(e) Indian Navy is cooperating with several other Navies in countering piracy in Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea.