Kerala: Detained Somalians remanded to judicial custody

Eight Somalians, who were taken into custody by the Indian Navy off Kavaratti coast in Lakshwadeep, have been remanded to 14 days judicial custody. The Somalians were produced before the Judicial First Class magistrate in Kochi on Sunday and later shifted to the sub-jail at Mattancherry, said the police.

The police said they will seek custody of the Somalians for interrogations. The Central Bureau of Investigation, the Intelligence Bureau, the Navy and the Coast Guard will jointly interrogate the Somalians, they said.

Meanwhile, of the three Somalians admitted to the hospital, two have been discharged while one was still under treatment, police said.

They will soon be produced before the magistrate court at Androth. The Navy, the Coast Guard and the Lakshadweep police had launched intense combing operations after three Somalians landed at Minicoy island in Lakshadweep on May 26, after abandoning their boat.

The combing operations were launched following reports of a suspicious boat being sighted about five kms off Minicoy Island near Lakshwadeep last week.