Top Indian naval officers call on VP |30 October 2009

Captain G. Prakash, along with the commanding officers of the two ships – Raghu Nair of the INS Shardul and Kalpit Dikshit of the Indian coast guard’s offshore patrol vessel Varuna – left Port Victoria shortly after the visit.

Capt. Prakash said Mr Belmont thanked them for conducting anti-piracy patrols in Seychelles’ exclusive economic zone while on their way here from Mauritius.

They also spoke with the vice-president about the patrols they will conduct in the EEZ north of Mahe for three days, on their voyage back to India.

Capt. Prakash said now, with the calmer season, piracy will be more prevalent, adding that the world will soon realise the enormity of the problem. However, the armed forces will do their best to control these illegal activities, he added.

The three officers were accompanied by the Indian high commissioner to Seychelles, Asit Kumar Nag, and Captain Srikant Kesnur, the defence adviser to Kenya, Tanzania and Seychelles, who is based in Nairobi.

The two warships, which belong to the 1st Training Squadron, were on a goodwill visit to Seychelles from October 26-29.