The Indian Navy has reportedly decided to deploy two warships in the Indian Ocean area to counter the threat from Somali pirates.

According to sources, the warships will be deployed near Mauritius and the Seychelles.

A private channel quoted Captain Manohar Nambiar, Chief PRO, Defence (Western Region), as saying: "We can confirm to you that the Indian Navy now has a presence in that region. We can not speak much about operations there, but yes, our ships are into surveillance activities. This is apart from our ship already patrolling the Gulf of Aden."

The INS Tabar, a warship sent last year to counter the pirates of Somalia, will be deployed. Joining the Tabar will be the INS Shardul, a fully armed amphibious ship which can carry more than 500 troops, and the ICGS Varuna, an offshore patrol vessel armed to the teeth. The Varuna can travel 4000 nautical miles at a stretch, enough to go around the world.

The deployment of warships is being undertaken in the wake of Somali pirates kidnapping over 100 Indian citizens in raids on the high seas.