Galmudug says 119 alleged Somali pirates in india are fishermen

Authorities in Central Somalia state have said the 119 alleged Somali pirates who were prosecuted in India were fishermen barely a day after thousands of Somalis protested against the sentences of the alleged Somali pirates.

The deputy president of Galmudug State, Mohamed Abdi Hashi, said the majority of the alleged somali pirates were fishermen  captured by EU naval forces guarding shipping companies using the Indian Ocean.

“As Galmudug State, we are here to serve the public, My government spoke to Somali embassy in India over Somali nationals arrested for piracy. My administration contacted to the lawyer of the boys (The alleged pirates) and he affirmed to us his commitment to defend boys,” said Hashi

Earlier the 119 Somali pirates, who were captured in several operations carried out by Indian coast guards and Navy off Lakshadweep between 2011 and 2012, have pleaded guilty to offenses filed against them. About 50 pirates could face death sentence while the rest could face life imprisonment.

Hundreds of pirates were arrested and now serving long jail terms in different countries and in prisons in the northern Somalia semiautonomous region of Puntland and the neighbouring breakaway region of Somaliland.