Court to frame charges against 120 Somali nationals

A Sessions court is scheduled to frame charges against 120 Somali nationals, who are alleged to be pirates, on January 31. The accused, currently lodged at Taloja Jail, were arrested in March 2011 for allegedly hijacking ships like Vega 5 and Al-Murtuza.

According to the chargesheet filed by the Yellow Gate police station, they will be tried under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in addition to attempt to murder, unlawful assembly, criminal intimidation, criminal conspiracy and for carrying weapons. Four separate chargesheets have been filed against the accused.

On Monday all 120 were brought to the Sewri sessions court in six vans. However, the court took objection to their arrival as it had not summoned them to the court.

Unable to contain the accused in the court, they were made to wait in the van. The court tried contacting the Taloja jailor through video conferencing, to ask him why the escort officers had brought the accused to court.

However, the video connection could not be established. They were also unable to get their own lawyers, appointed by the court.

Seventy hostages belonging to Thailand, Philippines, Bangladesh, Iran, Turkey, Myanmar and Pakistan were rescued by the Navy. Arms like AK-47 assault rifles with magazines and rocket launchers were also recovered from them when nabbed off the western coast of India.

Indian express