Ascertain the ages of pirates, Mumbai court tells police

A local court in Mumbai directed the police to 'collect the age proofs' of seven alleged Somali pirates, saying that they appeared to be under-18.

Yellow Gate police today produced 28 pirates — who were caught by Indian Navy and the Coast Guard off Lakshadweep Islands on February 6— in the magistrate's court.

Court remanded them to police custody till February 14.

Police told the court they wanted to verify nationalities of the accused, though all of them were claiming to be Somalians.

Interrogation was also necessary to find out who was their leader, and who were the key members of the group, the prosecution said.

The alleged pirates, who don't understand English, were asked by the public prosecutor in sign language if they had any complaints against the police; all the accused indicated they had none.

Quaiser Khalid, deputy commissioner of police (DCP of Port Zone), told reporters police will have to make a `panchnama' (crime site report) by going to Lakshadweep. Khalid also said that translators were not readily available and police had contacted the African Studies department of Mumbai University for help.

"We have also contacted the Somalian embassy, but it has not got back to us," Khalid said.

Khalid also said that police have invoked the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act against the pirates.

The act will be also used against the group of 15 pirates who were apprehended earlier, in the same area.

Khalid said that in the complaint lodged with the Yellow Gate police, the DIG Coast Guard and commander of the ship `ICGS Samar' had said that the pirates' activities had affected the "supply routes" in the Arabian sea.

The DCP also said that pirates had used the satellite phone belonging to the Thai ship crew, who had been taken hostage, and police were obtaining the call details.