India may prosecute pirates for hijacking the Vega 5

Thirteen crew members on board the Vega 5, operated by Pescamar, were rescued by the Indian Navy. (Photo: Stock File/FIS)

 (SPAIN, 3/16/2011)

The Indian Navy has decided to move the 61 pirates they arrested last Sunday after they assaulted the Vega 5 fishing vessel in the Arabian Sea to Bombay.

After the attack by the Indian Navy on the fishing boat that was seized by Somali criminals on 28 December 2010, personnel from the armed forces managed to rescue 13 crew aboard the Vega 5, while another nine remain missing.

When they land, the pirates will be handed over to police in India for their arrest and interrogation.

The vessel belongs to the firm Efripel Lda, which the Mozambican government has an interest in, although it is operated by Pescamar - a joint venture which the Spanish multinational  (More Info)