India court hands 44 Somalis life imprisonment for piracy

MUMBAI: An Indian court has sentenced 44 Somali nationals to life imprisonment for crimes committed while hijacking vessels off the coast of the east African nation.In two separate incidents, pirates had hijacked a bulk carrier and a fishing ship, taking their crew hostage before Indian navy ships rescued them and apprehended the attackers in 2024.During their trial, all 44 Somali defendants have admitted guilt, according to the judgments in both cases handed by a special court in Mumbai on Monday (Jul 20)."The act of piracy on high sea by hijacking a vessel and keeping crew members hostage for ransom by attempting to kill them and to keep them as human shield are very serious things which cannot be taken casually," judge SB Dige said. The first hijacking in December 2023 saw 35 Somalis at