India, July 21 -- A Mumbai sessions court on Monday sentenced 44 Somali pirates to life imprisonment, nearly a month after they pleaded guilty to hijacking two vessels in the Gulf of Aden in 2024 and threatening the lives of crew members. The accused had been arrested in separate rescue operations carried out by the Indian Navy.

Special judge S B Dige accepted the guilty pleas after giving the accused time to reconsider their decision and ruled that the admissions were voluntary.

"This Court is satisfied that all accused have pleaded guilty voluntarily, unconditionally, without any coercion, misrepresentation or pressure. Hence, their plea of guilty is accepted," the judge said.

The first case relates to the hijacking of MV Ruen, a Mal...