Pirates release second Indian vessel with 11 sailors

The vessel Al-Kadri, which was hijacked by Somalian pirates on March 28, was near Oman coast and on way to Dubai after being released, president of Kutch Vahanvati Association (KVA) Kasam Ali Bholim said.

Pirates had released another vessel 'Krishna Jyot' yesterday with 15 sailors on board.
"We came to know about the release of the vessel after captain of Al-Kadri contacted his family members in Mandvi (Kutch)," Bholim told PTI.

"All the 11 sailors are from Mandvi taluka in Kutch, while the boat owner is from Mundra taluka," he added.

Bholim said that the pirates looted all navigation equipment of the vessel and other valuables before releasing it early today.

There is still no word about the remaining six dhows hijacked by Somalian pirates in the last week of March and the 85 sailors on board.
India has approached Somalian government for help to ensure the release of the captured dhows.

The merchandise conducted on seas is worth about USD 110 billion annually, with Indians being the major players.

India has positioned a naval warship in the Gulf of Aden region since October 2008 to provide escort to Indian merchant ships. However, the latest hijackings took place far from the Gulf of Aden, indicating that the pirates are operating much beyond.
Sources said there were indications that the pirates were operating in south of the Indian Ocean as Maldives has spotted some of them.