Defence Minister A K Antony on Sunday called for a joint operation of various nations to end the pirates’ menace off Somali coast, where several ships had been hijacked. Addressing the media on the sidelines of a programme in Kozhikode, the Defence Minister said the Indian Navy had already been in touch with its counterparts in the US and other countries to clear the coast of pirates. The Indian Navy would come to the rescue of any hijacked ship, irrespective of its original country. Last week, the Indian Navy had destroyed a pirates’ ship. He said the Naval Academy at Ezhimala in North Kerala would be commissioned in next January. The academy, conceived 22 years back, would cost Rs 721 crore when it would become functional. “This would be the largest naval academy in Asia. At present, the training activities of naval force have been scattered over many centres in the country. Once the Ezhimala academy becomes operational, the entire training programmes could be held at Ezhimala,” said Antony.
