Elite Indian Commandos To Guard Merchant Vessels

Concern over Indian Ocean piracy — especially in the vital Gulf of Aden shipping lane – is prompting the government to set up an elite commando unit to protect Indian merchant vessels sailing through the region. The unit will accompany marine commandos of the Indian Navy (MARCOS).

“The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has decided to train 100 personnel to accompany and protect the Indian merchant vessels in the piracy infested waters, especially in the area off the coast of Somalia,” Harendra Singh, CISF deputy commandant and public relations officer, told Khabar South Asia.

Details of the pilot programme, he added, are being finalised and the squad should be operational by year’s end.

The September decision follows urgent pleas from India’s shipping merchants, who requested the protection after several high-profile piracy incidents in the Indian Ocean. During the period ranging from late March 2012 to early May of this year, 43 Indian seafarers were kidnapped for ransom by Somali pirates.

Armed escort ships

As many as 6,900 CISF personnel will deploy to guard the country’s 14 major ports, including Mumbai, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Kolkata, Haldia, Kandla, Goa, Paradip, Mangalore, Tuticorin, Kochi and Ennore. Meanwhile, elite troops will accompany merchant vessels as they sail past the piracy-affected Somali coast.

The commandos, armed with sophisticated long-range weapons instead of standard-issue 5.56mm rifles and pistols, will be fully prepared to counter any incidents of piracy. At least five will be deployed on each ship, Singh said.