Expressing concern over increasing incidents of piracy, a Parliamentary committee has asked the Defence Ministry to consider setting up a separate unit in the Navy to deal with sea brigands.

The Standing Committee on Defence said in its report that the constant piracy threats by Somalian pirates in the Indian Ocean is a cause of concern. Vulnerability to piracy affects country’s strategic maritime interests.

Replying to a Parliamentary query, Defence Minister A K Antony had said that over 121 ships were hijacked in the international waters in the last two years. Indian Navy has deployed one warship in the Gulf of Aden for anti-piracy patrols since October 2008 and more than 1,700 ships have been escorted in that region.

On the issue of infrastructure development by China in border areas, the Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar told the Standing Committee that China has “geographical advantage” over India along the border between the two countries. For smooth movement of troops and equipment in the region the Government has sanctioned various projects to build a road and rail network in the northeastern region.

Standing Committee on Defence report which was laid in the parliament also said that the IAF has been strengthening its presence in the northeastern sector and has plans of deploying four squadrons of the air superiority Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft there by 2015.