The Indian Defence Ministry reported on Sunday that 28 suspected pirates were detained on a Thai fishing vessel, used as a mothership by a PAG (Pirate Action Group) operating close to the Indian coast.
Reportedly, the pirates onboard the Thai-flagged Prantalay-11 were preparing to launch an attack on an unidentified Greek-flagged merchant ship when they were intercepted by two vessels of the Indian navy on Saturday evening. Following a brief exchange of gunfire, the pirates surrendered to the Indian coast guard some 160 kilometres west of the south-western Lakshwadeep Islands. The 24 crewmembers onboard the Prantalay-11 were rescued onboard the pirated vessel, which could indicate that they were used as human shields by the pirates. It is worthwhile recalling that the Prantalay-11 was among three Thai fishing vessels – the Prantalay family - seized in April last year and naval sources indicate that it has been used as a mothership in several pirate attacks reported in the Arabian Sea. The pirates have been taken to Mumbai for questioning.
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