After a test showed that eight of the 35 Somalian pirates apprehended by the Yellow Gate police for allegedly hijacking a merchant vessel were not minors as claimed by them, seven of them have now submitted documents in support of their claim. The special court on Tuesday directed verification of the documents and directed that pending an inquiry into it the seven be sent to an observation home meant for juveniles instead of jail. Thirty five Somalian men were arrested on March 23 by the police after they were apprehended by the Indian Navy during an anti-piracy operation. They are alleged to have hijacked a cargo ship from Bulgaria, MV Ruen, using guns, on December 14, 2023. Eight of them had initially claimed that they were minors and were then sent before the Juvenile Justice Board on March 24. An ossification test was done on them which concluded that they were all above 18 years of age. The court then sent them into police custody till Tuesday. Seven of the 35 through their lawyers on Tuesday submitted age proof including their school certificates from Somalia sent by their family members back home, claiming to be under 18. Usually, courts rely on documentary evidence including birth certificate or school marksheet or leaving certificate to determine the age of a person. In case, the documents are not available or their verification is not possible, bone ossification test is done to determine the age. Officials said that the documents will be verified first through the Embassy and the Board will then decide on whether the seven are minors. The Juvenile Justice Act has a different set of procedures in case a person booked in a case is found to be a minor. Instead of a prison, the person is housed in an Observation Home meant for children and will face inquiry by the Board. The Board can also recommend a person to be tried then before a children's court and cannot be sent to prison till he attains 21 years of age. No document has so far been submitted for the eighth person who had also claimed to be a minor. Special public prosecutor Iqbal Solkar said that of the remaining, 27 have been sent to Taloja jail after the court sent them to judicial custody. One person who was earlier hospitalised was brought before the court on Tuesday and has been sent to police custody till Monday.
