India deploys warship to police pirate-infested Gulf of Aden
India said yesterday it is deploying a warship to protect its merchant vessels in the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia.
The move comes after the MT Stolt Valor carrying mainly Indian crew was hijacked on September 17 by Somali pirates in the gulf last month.
"The government has approved the deployment of one warship with immediate effect to patrol the route followed by Indian flagships between Oman and Yemen," a defence ministry official said.
The number of warships could be increased later, he added.
The "anti-piracy patrol" vessel will have helicopters and marine commandos on board, a ministry statement late Thursday said.
The deployment follows weeks of protests by shipworkers and families of the detained crew who have been demanding rescue efforts for the MT Stolt Valor's crew of 22.
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