MUMBAI, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- A Thai fishing vessel hijacked by pirates six months ago was captured Sunday off India's southwestern coast, navy and coast guard officials said.
The forces received a distress call Saturday night from a Greek ship that pirates were chasing it about 100 miles west of Lakshadweep, The Hindu newspaper reported.
Indian military ships swarmed the area and chased several high-speed skiffs back to the Prantalay 11 fishing vessel, which was overtaken by pirates last year and reportedly used as a "mother ship" for African pirates, the newspaper said.
The pirates opened fire on the coast guard and navy ships, but eventually raised a white flag of surrender, the defense ministry said.
In all, 52 people were taken from the Prantalay, which included the captive crew and about 25 suspected pirates, officials said.
All of them were being taken to Mumbai for questioning, the report said.
