Aug.21-- Move is part of country's response to piracy in Gulf of Aden
India has issued guidelines for deployment of armed security guards on board Indian-flag merchant ships, clearing the way for Indian shipowners to employ them.

Other steps the government has taken to address piracy in the Gulf of Aden include naval patrols, participation in the Contact Group on Piracy off the coast of Somalia and other international fora, and creation of an interministerial group to deal with hostage situations that may arise.

(Source:JOC)