india

Updated: Mar 22, 2015 15:44 IST

Somali pirates are gradually shifting their base towards India, defence minister Manohar Parrikar said in Bhubaneshwar on Sunday.

"Piracy is a big threat in this region. Navy of several states are engaging them. But off late Somali pirates are shifting their base towards India," Parrikar said.

He was speaking in an international seminar on Indian Ocean in Bhubaneshwar.

Somali pirates have been a considerable threat to international shipping for a long time now. They have attacked hundreds of vessels in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean and in many cases kidnapped the crew members.

Indian vessels and Indian crew in international ships have often been the targets of Somali pirates and the Indian coast guard have successfully intercepted and seized pirate ships on many occasions.