Somali pirates trial: Deposition of 18 foreigners begins

File photo of the Somali pirates

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The 18 foreign witnesses will begin deposition in the videoconferencing trial of the 120 Somali pirates, who are facing charges of murder, hijacking a ship and waging war against the Indian government, in a city court from Wednesday.
 

    “The court has examined 70 Indian witnesses and 12
are left to be examined. Six witnesses from Thailand, six from Mozambique, two from Pakistan and four from Iran are yet to be examined. We have sent a request for video trial to their countries,” said asenior police officer.
 

    The pirates were captured by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard in separate raids. Around 60 of the pirates were caught in March 2011, when naval ships intercepted a captured Mozambican fishing vessel, Vega 5, in the Arabian Sea about 600 nautical miles west of India. Others were caught when the Navy launched an assault to free the Iranian fishing trawler, Al Murtaza, that was captured by the pirates.
 

    At least 70 hostages, mostly crew members from Thailand, Philippines, Bangladesh, Iran, Turkey, Myanmar and Pakistan, were rescued, and 11 AK-47 rifles with magazines, 10 AK-47s without magazines and two rocket launchers were seized. The pirates had killed Iranian national Mohammed Adam when he tried to resist them, while Pakistani national Abdul Aziz jumped into the sea.
 

    Harvinder Kour Wariach, DCP, Port zone, in a letter to secretary (IS- I division), ministry of home affairs, said it was decided to call the 18 foreign witnesses to the Indian Embassy in their respective countries and collect evidence through videoconferencing.
 

    The amicus curiae for the parties have given an application to the sessions court stating that the foreign witnesses should be genuine. A hearing in this matter will take place on Wednesday.

The Times of India, March 26, 2014

2 Somali students act as interpreters during pirates’ trial

LOST IN TRANSLATION

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The city police, unable to make head or tail of what the 120 arrested Somali piratessaidin court,haveenlistedthehelp of two SomaliMBAstudentsfrom Puneto act as interpretersduring thetrial.
    The Yellow Gate police arrested the pirates in March 2011 for hijacking several ships like Vega 5 and Al-Murtuza, and charged them with murder, attempt to murder, criminal intimidation, hijacking ships andsoon.However,the policehad a difficult time understanding the pirates’ language. “It was a difficult task to know what they said,” said investigating officer M G Tope. The police wrote to the ministry of external
affairs to provide a professional interpreter. However,itwasunableto provideone. 

    The policethen approachedPuneUniversity and identified five Somali students who spoke the pirates’ mother tongue as well as English. “We have hired two such students, bothdoing their MBAfrom differentcolleges in Pune. They are being paid Rs 3,000 per hearing,” said Tope.

    The students were first called in to the Sewri fast-track court last month when chargeswereframed againstthe120 pirates.The accused are notbroughttocourt;they facetrialthrough videoconferencing. “Itis not possibletobring all120in oneday andkeep them in thecourtroom. We gotocourtwiththeinterpreters andthey help uscontinuethe proceedingswhen itcomestounderstanding the pirates’ language,” said an officer. 

The Times of India, April 26, 2012

Video trial for Somali pirates

Mumbai: Around 120 Somali pirates, caught last year on charges of murder and attempt to murder, are facing trial via video conferencing. “Due to insufficient manpower, it is difficult to transfer them to the court and back. In each case, there are nearly 30 accused and sometimes the hearing for all falls on the same day. Hence, this is the most feasible way,” said a senior jail official. — Mateen Hafeez 

The Times of India, April 17, 2012

4 tug boat crew members to be held today for negligence

WISDOM WOES

Mateen Hafeez & Mahima Sikand TNN

Mumbai: Four crew members of the Minerva Maritime of Athens, which was given the contract to tug MV Wisdom, now stranded at Juhu beach, are likely to be arrested on Thursday.
The Yellow Gate police said it has recorded the statements of all the crew members and found that the negligence was the fault of a few of them.

The police registered a case under sections 280 (rash navigation of vessel) and 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the IPC against the crew members of the Minerva. Both are bailable offences. Fifteen crew members of Minerva have already been detained for negligence.

“The vesselcould have collided with the newly constructed Bandra-Worli sea link and damaged some pillars. This could have endangered the lives of some people,” said a police officer.
The police are planning to arrest Russian-born Ukrainian master of the Minerva, Shcepinsky Vadyam (65), Ukraine national Gubaty Sergiy (46) the chief officer on the ship, 46-year-old Georgiadis Loizos of Athens, a chief engineer and Abukari Pakis (46) a Ghanaian. “We found that it was the fault of these people that caused the mess-up,” said G M Tope, investigating officer.

Officials from the directorate general of shipping had visited Wisdom and inspected what type of rope was used. “They are yet to send us their report,” said a police officer.


The Times of India, June 30, 2011

16 Somali pirates face murder charge

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The Yellow Gate police on Tuesday filed a chargesheet against 16 Somali pirates who had hijacked two vessels and shot dead an Iranian national. The pirates, detained by the Indian Navy on March 12, are accused of murder and indulging in unlawful activities.

“We had arrested 120 Somali pirates and had filed three separate chargesheets against 104 earlier. The pirates had hijacked a Mozambican fishing vessel, Vega 5, and demanded a ransom of $20 million. They brought down the ransom amount to $4 million after negotiation. However, their demand was turned down. Enraged, they took Vega 5 to Somalia and kept the hostages there for three months,” said inspector G M Tope, who is probing the case.

“The pirates had killed an Iranian national, Mohammed Adam, who tried to resist them,” said an officer. Another hostage, Abdul Aziz, a Pakistani national who witnessed the killing, had jumped into the sea out of fear. It’s been nearly five months and his body is yet to be found.


The Times of India, June 30, 2011

Pak sailors thank India, on way home

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: Five Pakistani hostages, who were held captive by Somali pirates for five months and rescued by the Indian Navy, will finally leave for Pakistan on Monday. The hostages had been languishing at Yellow Gate police station after their ‘consular access’ process got stuck in diplomatic channels of the two countries.

TOI was the first to report about the hostages’ plight and the problems in the consular access programmme. A team from the Pakistani High Commission then landed up at the Yellow Gate police station and completed the formalities. Earlier, this was scheduled to be done at Tihar jail in Delhi as the hostages were wrongly labeled ‘prisoners’. The men are Aurangzeb Balloch, his brother Sajjad, Farhad Aalam Khan, Mohammed Umair and Lal Bakhsh.

“We are excited to go home. There were some problems in our travel to Pakistan but the Yellow Gate police took care of us properly. We have no words to thank the Indian police and those who helped make our journey to Pakistan easy,” said Aurangzeb, a resident of Karachi. The other hostages were also jubilant when asked about their return to Pakistan. “In the last three months we saw the lanes and bylanes of this city. It’s very similar to Karachi. The people, places, food and roads here are similar to Karachi. Initially, we were afraid that we may be kept in India, but now we have a positive feeling about this country and its people who loved us,” said Sajjad, another hostage. “We watched the World Cup matches between India and Pakistan in the police station. When India won the final against Sri Lanka, we were happy. We never faced any discrimination here,” added Lal Bakhsh.

The hostages were part of an Iranian fishing trawler, Al-Murtuza. The ship was hijacked by AK-47 borne Somali pirates from the Ballochistan sea in November. “We would get insufficient food after we were captured by the pirates,” added Farhad.

The five men were provided food, c h a i and clothes. Sometimes they managed to get cigarettes. The policemen even gave their phones to the hostages so they could speak to their families in Pakistan. To speed up the process to send them home, Ansar Burny, former human rights minister in Pakistan, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and Abraham Mathai, state minorities commission vicechairperson, worked together. “We spoke to Gurudas Kamat, the Union minister of state for home and he arranged consular access. The process was speeded up due to his efforts,” said Bhatt.

The Times of India, June 25, 2011

Rescued Pak hostages may soon go home

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: A three-member team of officials from the Pakistan High Commission will visit the city to take the five hostages rescued from the clutches of Somali pirates back to Pakistan after completing the consular access process at Yellow Gate police station.

The ministry of home affairs (MHA) has allowed the officials to visit Mumbai after reports of the five youths languishing at the police station came to light. “The team will reaching Mumbai by 8.30 am. Once verification of the youths is over, they will be given travel documents and leave for Karachi,” said a police source. The hostages have been kept at the police station for over three months. TOI had first reported about the delay in sending the hostages home.

The five hostages are Aurangzeb Nabi Bakhsh Balloch (24), his younger brother Sajjad Ali Balloch (19), Lal Bakhsh Murid Khan (20), Farhad Aalam Khan (24) and Mohammed Umair (18).

Metropolitan magistrate, S R Padwal, on Thursday recorded the statement of Aurangzeb Balloch. The statement contains information on how the five youths were kidnapped by Somali pirates last December. Earlier, the MHA had mentioned the five hostages as prisoners and arranged their consular access programme at Tihar Jail on June 28.

Activists like director Mahesh Bhatt, Abraham Mathai, chairman of the Harmony Foundation and Ansar Burney, the chairman of Burney Foundation in Pakistan are trying to send these hostages to their home land at the earliest.

STRANDED: File photo of the five Pakistani hostages

The Times of India, June 24, 2011

Pak officials allowed to meet rescued sailors in city

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The Union home ministry on Tuesday asked the Mumbai police to make arrangements at the Yellow Gate police station for Pakistani consular officials to meet five Pakistani sailors who were rescued by the Indian Navy from Somali pirates.

The home ministry had earlier fixed Tihar jail as the place where Pakistani consular officials were to meet the men for identification. The five Pakistani nationals have been staying at the Yellow Gate police station since they were rescued. TOI had first reported about the delay in sending the men back to their homeland.

Film-maker Mahesh Bhatt, chief patron of NGO Harmony Foundation, has been trying for an early repatriation of the Pakistani nationals. “I spoke to minister of state for home Gurudas Kamat about the delay in sending these boys back to their country. He immediately issued a letter instructing the Mumbai police to arrange consular access for them in the city. Earlier, it was scheduled on June 28 in Tihar jail,” Bhatt told TOI.

The film-maker, accompanied by his daughter Pooja Bhatt and Harmony Foundation president Dr Abraham Mathai, had visited the Yellow Gate police station on Monday and met the sailors. “Six Indians who were rescued by Pakistani authorities in a similar operation are currently in Karachi. The Pakistan government is sending them back to India on June 23,” said Bhatt. “It will be very embarrassing if we do not respond in a similar manner. We should send the men to Pakistan without further delay,” added Bhat.


The Times of India, June 22, 2011

Chargesheets against 104 Somali pirates

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The Yellow Gate police filed three charge sheets against 104 Somali pirates last week. Another charge sheet against 16 pirates will be filed within a couple of days, said police officials.

“We have filed charge sheets against 104 pirates who were arrested on March 12 for hijacking several ships like Vega 5 and Al-Murtuza. The Somalians have been booked for attempt to murder, unlawful assembly, criminal intimidation, criminal conspiracy and for carrying weapons,” said investigating officer M G Tope.

Each case has a 520-page charge sheet. The pirates were captured by the Indian Navy after the coast guard alerted it about the hijacked vessels. Navy had rounded up 120 pirates in several raids and rescued 70 hostages belonging to Thailand, Philippines, Bangladesh, Iran, Turkey, Myanmar and Pakistan. Subsequently, other countries claimed their nationals back. However, Pakistani is yet to claim five of its nationals.

“We had seized 11 AK-47 rifles with magazines and 10 AK-47s without magazines. Two rocket launchers were also recovered from the pirates. During interrogation, we learnt that the pirates had thrown most of their weapons in the sea when they realized that they will be captured,” said Tope. The pirates have also been booked for waging a war against the Indian government. “We have invoked sections of stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA),” added Tope.


The Times of India, June 22, 2011

Grounded Wisdom: Tug vessel crew detained

TRASH SITE: Garbage littered at Juhu beach on Tuesday, with MV Wisdom in the backdrop

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The Yellow Gate police have detained 15 crew members of Minerva Maritime of Athens for negligence. Minerva was responsible for tugging MV Wisdom, now grounded at Juhu beach, from Colombo to Alang in Gujarat. Six crew members, including the captain of Minerva, are likely to be arrested.

The 9,000-tonne MV Wisdom has now become a headache of sorts for the Coast Guard and directorate general of shipping (DGS). “Minerva was given the contract to drag Wisdom from Colombo to the Alang ship breaking yard. However, the rope they were using snapped near Mumbai due to rough weather and high tide. We brought the all the 15 members of the crew to the police station and their statements are being recorded. Once we complete this process, we will arrest those responsible for the incident,” said an inspector. Commissioned in 1985, the Singapore-owned container vessel is owned by Al United Maritime Business Pvt Ltd.

The Minerva crew comprises two Ukrainians, two Greeks and 11 from Ghana.

“The crew members of the decommissioned merchant vessel say that they had informed the Coast Guard and sought help from the Mumbai Port Trust authorities. However, the MbPT officials claim that they didn’t do so as there was no prior intimation. Moreover, the MbPT does not provide help to dead vessels,” said an officer.

A team of Coast Guard inspected the stranded ship to assess the damage and think of ways it could be removed from the beach. This, they said, could take some time. If the damage is minimal, they could try to tow the ship during high tide. The Coast Guard may even consider dismantling parts of the ship to reduce the weight and ease the process of towing it.

The Times of India, June 22, 2011

Pak hostages are ‘prisoners’

STRANDED: The five Pakistanis at the Yellow Gate police station

City Police Taking Care Of Sailors

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: Five Pakistani hostages, who were rescued by the Indian Army from Somali pirates in March this year, have been labelled as Pakistani prisoners by the ministry of home affairs. TOI has a letter sent by the ministry to the director general of prisons in Maharashtra confirming this fact.

The Mumbai police had asked the Pakistani embassy to take its nationals back but the latter said they have not received permission from the Indian ministry to meet them.

The home ministry has fixed June 28 for the production of the five Pakistanis in Tihar Jail where the hostages will be identified and taken back by the Pakistani embassy. Film-maker Mahesh Bhatt visited the Yellow Gate police station on Monday and met the hostages.

Bhatt is also in touch with Ansar Burney, chairman of the Burney Foundation in Pakistan and a human-rights activist. Burney had visited the houses of the hostages in Pakistan and convinced their families that the hostages will return home soon. “These boys are hostages and not prisoners. They have not committed any crime. The home ministry should not have labelled them as prisoners,” Abraham Mathai, vice chairman of the state minorities’ commission, said.

The five hostages are Aurangzeb Nabi Bakhsh Balloch (24), his younger brother Sajjad Ali Balloch (19), Lal Bakhsh Murid Khan (20), Farhad Aalam Khan (24) and Mohammed Umair (18). The ordeal for the five Pakistanis, employed on the fishing trawler, Al-Murtuza, started in December last year when Somali pirates hijacked their vessel and imprisoned all 18 crew members, six Pakistanis and 12 Iranians. On March 12, the Indian Navy finally rescued the vessel from the pirates whom they caught 290 nautical miles from Lakshadweep.

Earlier, arrangements for special consular access were made in Tihar Jail on May 9 but the Pakistani embassy officials did not turn up. “We were informed too late,” a Pakistani embassy office-bearer said. Yellow Gate police station officials, who are bearing the expenses for providing the Pakistanis food for over three months from their own pockets, are completing all formalities so that the hostages could be produced in Tihar jail on June 28. The hostages will be identified by the Pakistani embassy officials and will be taken back to Pakistan.

The Times of India, June 21, 2011

Tests on pirates to determine age

Cops escort arrested Somali sailors at Junagadh on Monday

— Mateen Hafeez

Mumbai: Nineteen Somali pirates, captured in various raids by the Indian Navy for hijacking vessels, underwent age verification tests on Saturday and Monday. The Saturday test confirmed that the nine Somali pirates were adults while the report on 10 others is still awaited.

Vega 5 fishing vessel and Al-Murtuza trawler were hijacked last year by Somali pirates. The hijackers were arrested and kept at Taloja jail in Navi Mumbai. H D Khatri, deputy director general of shipping (technical), on May 25 sent a letter to the police saying some of the pirates were underage and could be tried under the Juvenile Justice Act.

14 Somalis, 3 Yemenis held, may be pirates
Rajkot: Fourteen Somalis and three Yemeni nationals were arrested on Monday in Gujarat’s Junagadh from a boat which had drifted towards the Una coast. Although they appeared to be fishermen, security agencies suspect they could be pirates.

Residents of Junagadh’s Nandana village spotted the foreigners swimming ashore and informed the police. Their boat seemed to have gone unnoticed by coastal security.

The police found fishing nets, ropes and buoys in the boat indicating they were fishermen. However, the police are not ruling out the possibility that they could be pirates who may have dumped their weapons in the high seas.

While the Somalis swam ashore, three Yemenis were rescued by a Coast Guard chopper. Investigators sought interpreters’ help to question them. The three Yemenis own the boat and they had hired the Somalis for fishing, cops said.

The Times of India, June 21, 2011

Coal theft bid foiled, 16 held

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The Coast Guard on Sunday
night arrested 16 persons for stealing 1.5 tonnes of coal from a cargo ship anchored in the Arabian Sea.

Police sources said the incident was reported to the police around 8 pm. However, the police did not have an equipped boat to catch the thieves and a message was sent to the Coast Guard, sources added.

“CoastGuard vesselscaught the thieves, aged 18 to 25, while they were busy transferring the stolen coal from a cargo ship to their boat,” said a police officer. They were brought to Yellow Gate police station and their boat was impounded.
The men were produced before the Ballard Pier court on Monday and remanded in judicial custody.


The Times of India, June 21, 2011

‘Mumbai cops more helpful than our govt’

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The five Pakistani nationals who were rescued from pirates and brought back to Mumbai in March think the city policemen care for them more than their own government officials.

“The policemen have given us clothes, arranged for food and also provided us with jayenamaaz to pray. They even serve us tea several times,” said one of the hostages lodged at the Yellow Gate police station. “What they are doing for us is more than anything done by our government officials who are not bothered about us.”

The Indian Navy rescued Aurangzeb Balloch, Sajjad Balloch, Lal Khan, Farhad Khan and Mohammed Umair from Somalian pirates on March 12. “The policemen even made arrangements so that we could speak to our families; they were also much relieved when they spoke to us,” said Aurangzeb Balloch, the only one who can speak fluent Urdu-Hindi. “The cops are very cooperative, cordial and caring. In contrast, our government officials have not visited us even once to know what we are going through without our families,” said Aurangzeb Balloch, the only hostage who could speak fluent Urdu-Hindi.

The five while away their time by roaming around outside the police station and talking about the life they have left behind. Farhad added that they had almost nothing to do the whole day. “We are semieducated; we cannot even read to pass our time. Mostly, we huddle together, thinking and talking about what the future holds for us,” he said.

They are visibly upset that their country does not seem to “care for them”. “Those from Iran, Myanmar, Philippines, and Thailand have been taken back by their governments, but we are still here. When we ask Altaf Sahab from the embassy, he keeps saying that as it was a matter between the two countries, it and will take some time,” said Lal Khan.

It surely seems to be an irony that once upon a time, they dreamt of visiting Mumbai and now, they are dying to leave the city. “We always thought of visiting Mumbai one day but never thought our trawler would be hijacked and we will be brought to Mumbai,” said Bakhsh, a Hindi movie lover. Now, all that they can think of is leaving the city and returning home.

The Times of India, June 13, 2011

No one to take Pak sailors home

5 Hostages Caught In Diplomatic Dispute

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: It has been two months since the Indian Navy rescued five Pakistani crew members of an Iranian fishing trawler from the clutches of Somalian pirates but they are not sure if they would ever be able to return home. The five are caught between the diplomatic channels of the neighbouring countries, with the Mumbai police saying they had asked the Pakistani embassy to take its nationals back and the latter claiming they had not got the permission from the Indian ministry to come to Mumbai and meet the five.

“We have sent letters to the Pakistani embassy but they have not even come to us to enquire about their nationals. Over the phone they said they were verifying the various documents and would claim their nationals soon,” said the police, adding that the Pakistani embassy had not even shelled out a single penny for the expenses being incurred on the sailors. “We are in touch with Pakistani embassy office bearer Altaf who has promised to reimburse all the bills for food and other amenities that we are giving to the five,” said inspector M G Tope. The five have been identified as Aurangzeb Nabi Bakhsh Balloch(24), his younger brother Sajjad Ali Balloch (19), Lal Bakhsh Murid Khan (20), Farhad Aalam Khan (24) and Mohammed Umair (18).

Pakistani officials seem to be keen to help their countrymen but apparently, they are not getting the permission. “The embassy wants to take the sailors back but the Indian home affairs department is not allowing me to go out of Delhi range. We have not been given permission to meet them,” a Pakistani embassy official told TOI. “We have written to the MHA but they are not responding. The embassy officials are also in touch with the hostages and preparing travel papers.”

The ordeal for the five Pakistanis, employed on the fishing trawler, Al-Murtuza, started in December last year when Somalian pirates hijacked their vessel and imprisoned all 18 crew members, six Pakistanis and 12 Iranians. On March 12, the Indian Navy finally rescued the ship from the pirates whom they caught 290 nautical miles from Lakshadweep.

During that time, the navy rounded up 106 pirates in several raids and also rescued 70 hostages, belonging to Thailand, Philippines, Bangladesh, Iran, Turkey, Myanmar and Pakistan. Subsequently, the other countries claimed their nationals back, but Pakistan is yet to take home their five rescued hostages, who are now at the Yellow Gate police station.

The Balloch brothers are from Karachi and their three friends are from Sindh in Pakistan. “On fishing trawlers, I earn Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 (Pakistan currency) a month. My brother worked in a tailor’s shop and wanted to work with me. It was his first trip,” Balloch told TOI.

Tope said through the ministry of home affairs they told the Pakistani embassy on May 7 that they would take the hostages to New Delhi where their nationality could be verified. “However, the officials did not turn up,” he said. A Pakistani embassy official, however, claimed they were not told that the hostages would be produced before a panel for verification.

The five were again brought back to Mumbai and sent to the Yellow Gate police station. Dreaming of home, all they do is brood, sitting outside the police station, or talk about their families. Son of a farmer, Farhad Khan, said, “Sahab, I want to go home. I have four brothers. I spoke to them over phone and even they are crying for me. Do something for us so that we could go back.”

Even the policemen are at a loss and trying their best to help them. The cops made arrangements for them to call home and also pay for their clothes and other amenities. A local restaurant takes care of their meals. “They are not criminals, they are hostages. We just want that the Pakistani embassy to come and take its men back,” added Tope.

The Times of India, June 13, 2011

Diesel smugglers’ arrest hints at new gang in action

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The arrest of eight persons, who were involved in diesel smuggling in the Arabian Sea, has shocked the police. The new gang, allegedly run by Abdul Qadar, has emerged as the biggest rival of diesel smuggling kingpin Mohammed Ali Shaikh’s gang. Shaikh is currently lodged in the Arthur Road jail for a murder case.

In the last two weeks, the crime branch (control) personnel arrested eight persons and seized
a ship, Sagar Sevak, and over one lakh litre of oil. The total value of the seized material is more than Rs 13 crore. “Earlier, Shaikh’s men ruled the sea. They would risk their lives to smuggle diesel in the high sea. However, since Shaikh’s arrest last year in connection with Chand Madar’s murder, his gang has been crippled. Madar was the managing director of a shipping firm and a threat to Shaikh’s diesel business,” said a police officer. Shaikh has been booked for the murder under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

“The new gang leader, Qadar, was originally a fruit vendor. He got a job on a fishing trawler, which would supply vegetables, meat, fruits, cooking oil, red chillies, spices and medicines to foreign ship crews stationed at the Indian harbour. Here, he came in touch with diesel smugglers and got into the business,” said police sources. The oil smuggling business, the police say, is pegged between Rs 50 to 60 crores a year. “It’s just the beginning for them. If they are not arrested, the business may grow rapidly and the turnover may cross hundreds of crores,” said the sources. Rakesh Sharma, in-charge of the crime branch unit, said, “We have arrested Abdul Qadar and his brother-in-law Akbar Pinzara. Their associates would purchase diesel from Indian and foreign ships and store it in Sagar Sevak ship after making payment for the storage. We are also probing the role of Sagar Sevak ship officials.”

Shaikh was an unchallenged don in diesel smuggling until his arrest. “His arrest has put his entire gang on backfoot. Though, his gang members are still active, but they are not as enthusiastic as they were earlier. They do not enjoy the same financial support now,” said a police officer.

“When foreign ships come to India, they are given specific quantity of diesel. When these ships reach the high sea, they switch off one of the two engines to save diesel and then sell it to these smugglers,” said an officer. Police said that Qadar’s aides would unload the diesel from these ships and save it in Sagar Sevak. Qadar would buy diesel for Rs 8 per litre from the foreign ships and sell it to wholesale black marketing agents for Rs 18 per litre. Later, it would be sold by some retailers for Rs 28 per litre. “The current market price for diesel is between Rs 40 and Rs 43 per litre,” said an officer. Sagar Sevak has a storage capacity of 150 tonnes. “Earlier, we arrested six persons of Qadar’s gang while buying diesel from Al-Wasila ship in the high sea,” said police sources.

The Times of India, May 30, 2011

Diesel smugglers’ arrest hints at new gang in action

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The arrest of eight persons, who were involved in diesel smuggling in the Arabian Sea, has shocked the police. The new gang, allegedly run by Abdul Qadar, has emerged as the biggest rival of diesel smuggling kingpin Mohammed Ali Shaikh’s gang. Shaikh is currently lodged in the Arthur Road jail for a murder case.

In the last two weeks, the crime branch (control) personnel arrested eight persons and seized
a ship, Sagar Sevak, and over one lakh litre of oil. The total value of the seized material is more than Rs 13 crore. “Earlier, Shaikh’s men ruled the sea. They would risk their lives to smuggle diesel in the high sea. However, since Shaikh’s arrest last year in connection with Chand Madar’s murder, his gang has been crippled. Madar was the managing director of a shipping firm and a threat to Shaikh’s diesel business,” said a police officer. Shaikh has been booked for the murder under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

“The new gang leader, Qadar, was originally a fruit vendor. He got a job on a fishing trawler, which would supply vegetables, meat, fruits, cooking oil, red chillies, spices and medicines to foreign ship crews stationed at the Indian harbour. Here, he came in touch with diesel smugglers and got into the business,” said police sources. The oil smuggling business, the police say, is pegged between Rs 50 to 60 crores a year. “It’s just the beginning for them. If they are not arrested, the business may grow rapidly and the turnover may cross hundreds of crores,” said the sources. Rakesh Sharma, in-charge of the crime branch unit, said, “We have arrested Abdul Qadar and his brother-in-law Akbar Pinzara. Their associates would purchase diesel from Indian and foreign ships and store it in Sagar Sevak ship after making payment for the storage. We are also probing the role of Sagar Sevak ship officials.”

Shaikh was an unchallenged don in diesel smuggling until his arrest. “His arrest has put his entire gang on backfoot. Though, his gang members are still active, but they are not as enthusiastic as they were earlier. They do not enjoy the same financial support now,” said a police officer.

“When foreign ships come to India, they are given specific quantity of diesel. When these ships reach the high sea, they switch off one of the two engines to save diesel and then sell it to these smugglers,” said an officer. Police said that Qadar’s aides would unload the diesel from these ships and save it in Sagar Sevak. Qadar would buy diesel for Rs 8 per litre from the foreign ships and sell it to wholesale black marketing agents for Rs 18 per litre. Later, it would be sold by some retailers for Rs 28 per litre. “The current market price for diesel is between Rs 40 and Rs 43 per litre,” said an officer. Sagar Sevak has a storage capacity of 150 tonnes. “Earlier, we arrested six persons of Qadar’s gang while buying diesel from Al-Wasila ship in the high sea,” said police sources.

The Times of India, May 30, 2011

Pak yet to claim 4 nationals rescued from hijacked boat

Mateen Hafeez | TNN

Mumbai: Four Pakistani nationals, who were part of the 16 crew members of hijacked Mozambican fishing boat Vega 5, are still languishing in the Mumbai docks area. While the other 54 hostages belonging to various countries have been taken home by their respective governments, the Pakistani embassy is still in the process of verifying if the hijacked crew members are actually its nationals.

Vega 5 was hijacked last year with 24 crew members on board. The hijackers, all Somali pirates, have been arrested and are kept in Mumbai jails. A total of 106 pirates in various raids by the Indian Navy have been arrested and brought to the city. Security forces rescued 70 hostages, mostly crew members belonging to various countries such as Thailand, Philippines, Bangladesh, Iran, Turkey, Myanmar and Pakistan.

“While most of the countries have claimed their citizens and taken them, the 12 Iranian hostages, currently kept in the Mumbai docks area, will be flying to their country on Friday. However, the Pakistani embassy has not given any answer about four of its nationals,” said a source. The police had given an opportunity to the Pakistani hostages to speak to their families in Pakistan.

“The four hostages spoke to their families on phone and heaved a sigh of relief after talking to them. They have given their addresses too. However, the Pakistani embassy is still verifying if they are actually Pakistani nationals and have not claimed their responsibility yet,” added the source. The Pakistani nationals did not have any document with them since the hijacked fishing boat had sunk into the sea.

The four Pakistani nationals are Lal Bakhsh Murid Khan (20), Sajjad Bakhsh (20), Farid Aalam Khan (24) and Aurangzeb Kakhsh (24). Khan and Farid belong to the Mirpur district of Karachi while Sajjad and Aurangzeb hail from Karachi itself.

“The foreigners’ registration office had informed the local police some time ago that the state government would sanction Rs 3 lakh for the hostages’ food expenses. However, the money has not reached to the police yet,” the source said.

The Iranian consulate is sending food for its nationals and the Pakistani nationals too get their food from the Iranians.

Armed policemen have been deployed for security until the hostages are deported to their countries.

The Times of India, April 14, 2011

CHASE ON FOR TWO MORE PIRATE VESSELS

SEA OF TROUBLE: A navy helicopter approaches pirates in April 2010

Fishermen Rescued On January 28 Say Four Fishing Trawlers Had Been Taken Over By Pirates. Navy Hunts For The Other Boats

V Narayan & Mateen Hafeez | TNN

Mumbai: Defence personnel have learnt from the 20 fishermen rescued from Somali pirates on January 28 that four fishing trawlers in all had been hijacked by pirates. While the navy discovered that two of these trawlers were being used by the pirates as mother ships, it is now hunting for the other two trawlers.

The navy sank Prantalay-11 on January 28 and captured Prantalay-14 on February 6. It is now hunting for Prantalay-12 and Prantalay-13.

The 20 fishermen were brought to Mumbai on Sunday, while the 15 pirates who held them captive were produced in court on Monday. The 24 fishermen rescued on February 6 are expected to reach Mumbai on Wednesday along with the 28 captured pirates. The captive fishermen had been assigned jobs by the pirates aboard the trawlers.

Defence sources said Western Naval Command warships are searching for two pirate-commandeered trawlers. “The two fishing trawlers that are still at large may be on a mission to hijack merchant vessels. Their attempts have to be thwarted soon,” said Indian defence assistant PRO Narendra Vispute. He said the pirates hijacked four vessels on April 2010. “They used the trawlers as mother ships to hijack merchant vessels,” he said.

Navy officials in Kochi took the statements of the 20 fishermen on January 28, after which they were handed over to the Yellow Gate police in Mumbai. “Interestingly, no arms or weapons were seized from the 43 arrested pirates. Their tactic is to throw weapons into the sea when they surrender,” Vispute said.

Meanwhile, the Mumbai police said they have the space to keep the pirates in a police lockup or jail. No country is claiming the pirates as they have no documents. The 15 pirates arrested on January 28 were sent to After Barrack, a special cell at Arthur Road jail, on Monday. “The pirates will be shifted to a proper barrack on Tuesday,” said Ramesh Dhamne, Arthur Road jail superintendent. The Yellow Gate police said they have five lock-ups inside the police station to accommodate the 28 pirates who will arrive on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the 20 rescued fishermen will be kept at the Yellow Gate police station. “These fishermen are prime witnesses in anti-piracy operations. Arrangements will be made at the earliest to send them home,” said deputy commissioner of police (Ports) Quaiser Khalid.

Thai and Myanmarese representatives were present to aid the fishermen. “The owner of the Prantalay vessels said he had rented the trawlers to fishermen at Zigoti, Uganda when they were hijacked by pirates who demanded ransom,” Khalid said. Songsang Patavanich, director of P T Interfishery Limited, which owns the Prantalay trawlers, was at the Yellow Gate police station on Monday to check on the crew.

Khalid said there were 27 fishermen in all on the Prantalay-14. “The owner said five fishermen died of diseases, while two drowned on January 28,” he said.

The Times of India, February 8, 2011

28 MORE PIRATES being brought to Mumbai

DOWN AND OUT: The captured men on board a naval vessel. (Top left) Defence officials tow one of the tow skiffs to the Indian coast

Navy Overpowers Second Ship In 10 Days. City Police Await Custody Of Captured Men

Mateen Hafeez & T Ramavarman TNN

Mumbai: The 28 pirates who were captured early Sunday morning were first spotted at sea by a Dornier aircraft at about 8 pm on Saturday, according to a defence ministry release.

The Dornier informed INS Tir about the location, and it reached the area. The ministry said Tir continued chasing the skiffs and the mother vessel till first light on Sunday morning to ensure proper identification.

Coast guard vessel ICGS Samar joined the operation at about 5 am.

On being asked to surrender and prepare to be boarded, the skiffs returned fire. “The defence ships chased the two pirate boats, which headed for the mother ship, a captured fishing trawler,” said a defence officer. The Prantalay-11 trawler had been apparently hijacked several months ago off the Somali coast, since when pirates were using it as a mother ship. Defence officials said the pirates on the mother ship were asked to surrender, but they also fired. An exchange of fire ensued, during which the pirates hoisted a white flag to signal surrender. Sources said the pirates would be taken to Kochi first for medical assistance before being brought to Mumbai.

When navy and coast guard personnel captured the mother ship, they realized it was one of two Thai fishing trawlers that had been hijacked in April 2010 off Somali. Sources said that the Prantalay-11 and Prantalay-14 were hijacked by pirates and crew members had been taken hostage.

On January 28, the navy and coast guard sank the Prantalay-14 200 nautical miles off Kochi. They arrested 12 Somalis, two Ethiopians and a Kenyan.

On Sunday, defence personnel captured the mother ship used by the pirates. The hostages had been assigned jobs on board and threatened with dire consequences if they did not obey,.

Quaiser Khalid, DCP (Port), said, “We have not received any official communication from the defence as yet. Once we get custody of the latest suspects, we will interrogate them.”
Piracy has made shipping perilous, which has led to large deployments at sea, including by India.

FEB 6 CAPTURE

Saturday, 4 pm: Pirates carry out aborted attack on merchant ship Chios. INS Tir asked to locate pirates

8 pm: Dornier aircraft locates two skiffs and a mother ship; passes coordinates to Tir, which reaches the location

Overnight: Tir tracks skiffs and mother ship till dawn

Sunday, 5 am: Coast guard vessel Samar joins pursuit

Later: Pirates on skiffs fire when asked to surrender. Mother ship asked to halt, but it also fires. Pirates raise white flag after exchange of fire

Tuesday: Defence personnel expected to reach Mumbai with captured pirates, skiffs and mother ship

The Times of India, February 7, 2011