No proof that 14 sailors are pirates, say Junagadh police
Published: Thursday, Jun 23, 2011, 15:58 IST
By DNA Correspondent | Place: Ahmedabad | Agency: DNA, DNA

The 14 Somali sailors who were caught near Unna coast in Junagadh district four days ago were booked under the Indian Foreign act and Passport act on Wednesday. Although it was alleged that the foreign nationals were pirates, the police couldn't recover any arms and ammunition from them.
"We have lodged an FIR against them under two acts-Passport Act and Foreign Act as the 14 foreign nationals landed in Indian territory without permission and documents. So far there are no evidences to prove that they are pirates," said Dipankar Trivedi, Superintendent of Police, Junagadh.
Apart from the Somalians, three Yemen nationals were also in the boat. Police had earlier claimed that the Yemen nationals had reportedly alleged that the Somalians were pirates who had hijacked their boat.
Sources in the police said that the Yemenis had also claimed that the boat had been adrift in the Indian territory after running out of fuel. It is to be noted that on Sunday a team of marine police had detained 17 men after local fishermen reported about a vessel bearing a Yemen flag adrift in the sea a couple of kilometres off Unna coast.