Mumbai, July 7 -- Forty-three Somali nationals have pleaded guilty before a Mumbai Sessions Court to charges of piracy for their alleged involvement in the hijacking of two merchant vessels, taking crew members hostage and demanding ransom.
The accused, who were arrested by the Indian Navy during anti-piracy operations in 2024, admitted to the charges while requesting the court to take a lenient view during sentencing.
The court has granted them time to reconsider their guilty plea before pronouncing its verdict.
According to the prosecution, the Indian Navy apprehended 44 Somali pirates in two separate operations in March 2024 after they allegedly hijacked the merchant vessels MV Ruen and Al-Kambar 786, held their crew members hostage a...