By IANS,
Mumbai : The Indian Coast Guard were awaiting information about a cargo ship carrying at least three Indian sailors, which has been reported missing off the coast of Somalia since Saturday.
“Though we have heard of the incident, we are awaiting more information. However, it is beyond our jurisdiction to be involved in the matter,” a Coast Guard spokesman told IANS here Monday.
The ship, M.V. Victoria, left Mumbai around a fortnight back with 12 sailors from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Tanzania apart from three Indians. It was carrying a consignment of sugar.
Though reported missing, it is feared to have been hijacked by a group of unidentified armed terrorists in the Indian Ocean around 55 nautical miles off the coast from Somalian capital Mogadishu in northeast Africa.
This is the 10th ship hijack this year off the 3,500-km, mostly unsecured, Somalian coastline, in which at least 25 Indians had been held hostages.
Last year, M.V. Reef Azania went missing with two Indians among 14 crewmembers, followed by M.V. Infinitymarine with 16 Indians on board.