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India navy 'to go after pirates' India 'to step up piracy battle'
(about 4 hours later)
The Indian navy has been given formal approval by the United Nations to go after pirate ships in Somali waters, the BBC has learnt. India is bolstering its naval presence in the Gulf of Aden to tackle piracy off Somalia's coast, reports say.
The UN approval authorises India to go in "hot pursuit" of pirates, naval sources told the BBC. The Indian navy is planning to send at least one more warship to the area, according to local media reports.
On Tuesday, an Indian warship sank a suspected Somali pirate vessel after it opened fire on it in the Gulf of Aden. And Delhi has formally been given permission to act under a UN resolution allowing navies to pursue pirates into Somalia's territorial waters.
Piracy incidents have surged off the Somali coast. A number of Indian crews have been on ships hijacked by pirates. Piracy incidents have surged off the Somali coast and a number of Indian crews have been on hijacked ships.
Earlier this week, a Saudi Arabian supertanker, the Sirius Star, was hijacked along with 25 crew. On Tuesday, an Indian warship sank a suspected pirate "mother ship" after it came under attack in the Gulf of Aden.
The tanker, loaded with oil worth $100m, is now anchored off the Somali coast. Earlier this week, a Saudi Arabian super tanker, the Sirius Star, was hijacked along with 25 crew. The tanker, loaded with oil worth $100m, is now anchored off the Somali coast.
'Only to check piracy' Security Council mandate
"The UN approval which allows Indian warships to enter Somali waters has been conveyed to us recently," a naval source told the BBC. According to local media reports, the Indian navy now plans to send at least one more warship to the Gulf of Aden.
"We can now enter the Somali territorial waters under certain circumstances. It would be only to check piracy," he said. INS Mysore - a destroyer - could be deployed as early as next week, reports say.
India has called for greater co-operation between foreign navies to tackle the piracy threat.
SOMALIA PIRACY How sea piracy is hurting India'I thought pirates would kill me'Somali piracy: Your storiesUK hands over pirate suspects SOMALIA PIRACY How sea piracy is hurting India'I thought pirates would kill me'Somali piracy: Your storiesUK hands over pirate suspects
Sources said India would be working along with the navies of the countries in the Indian Ocean region.
According to some reports, the Indian navy is also planning to send at least one more warship to the Gulf of Aden.
Local media reports said that INS Mysore - a destroyer - would be deployed as early as next week.
The Navy refused to confirm the report, saying it did not discuss deployment of ships.The Navy refused to confirm the report, saying it did not discuss deployment of ships.
But naval sources said it was yet to be decided whether a new warship would replace the INS Tabar - which sank the pirate "mother ship" this week - or boost its operations. Under a UN Security Council resolution passed in June, states co-operating with Somalia's transitional government are permitted, for a period of six months, to enter its territorial waters to "repress acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea".
The international forces are allowed to use "all necessary means", in a manner consistent with relevant provisions of international law, according to resolution 1816.
India is among several countries currently patrolling the Gulf of Aden, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes which connects the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
In recent weeks, there has been a growing demand for multinational efforts to fight the pirates, with more than 90 vessels attacked this year.
France, India, South Korea, Russia, Spain, the US and Nato also have a presence in the region.
'Pirate-infested waters'
India has called for greater co-operation between foreign navies to tackle the piracy threat.
India deployed INS Tabar in the Gulf of Aden on 23 October, and it has escorted 35 ships safely through the "pirate-infested waters", the navy says.India deployed INS Tabar in the Gulf of Aden on 23 October, and it has escorted 35 ships safely through the "pirate-infested waters", the navy says.
Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Shipping in India has confirmed that seven Indians are among the crew of the MV Delight, a Hong-Kong registered Iranian cargo ship, which was hijacked on Tuesday.Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Shipping in India has confirmed that seven Indians are among the crew of the MV Delight, a Hong-Kong registered Iranian cargo ship, which was hijacked on Tuesday.
The 25-member crew includes two Pakistanis, seven Filipinos, seven Iranians and two Ghanians. The 25-member crew includes two Pakistanis, seven Filipinos, seven Iranians and two Ghanaians.
The ship was carrying wheat and was bound for Iran.The ship was carrying wheat and was bound for Iran.
A week ago, 18 Indian crew members of the Japanese-owned cargo ship MV Stolt Valor were released after being held by pirates for two months.A week ago, 18 Indian crew members of the Japanese-owned cargo ship MV Stolt Valor were released after being held by pirates for two months.
Somalia has not had a functioning national government since 1991 and has suffered continuing civil strife.Somalia has not had a functioning national government since 1991 and has suffered continuing civil strife.
India is among several countries patrolling the Gulf of Aden, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes which connects the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
In recent weeks, there has been a growing demand for multinational efforts to fight the pirates.
More than 90 vessels have been attacked by pirates this year.
Piracy off the coast of East Africa and the Gulf of Aden - an area of more than 1m sq miles (2.6m sq km) - is estimated to have cost up to $30m in ransoms this year, a UK think-tank has said.