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Indian authorities are investigating reports that several boats, with more than 100 sailors aboard, have been taken over by Somali pirates off the African coast, officials said on Tuesday.

Crew members of an Indian vessel, released by Somali pirates this week, told authorities on Tuesday that at least eight more fishing vessels with Indian sailors had been hijacked by pirates in the last few days, India's navy said.

"The shipping authorities have been asked to probe whether any Indian boats have gone missing and taken over by Somali pirates," said Commander PVS.Satish, an Indian Navy official.

On Monday, pirates seized a ship with 24 crew members off the port of Aden and Mogadishu traders said seven additional vessels headed for the Somali capital Mogadishu had been hijacked over the past two days.

Indian officials said they were trying to verify whether those were Indian vessels. "We are waiting to hear more news on this," Satish said.

Somali pirates regularly attack Indian vessels and this month Indian navy commandos thwarted a suspected pirate attack on a Greek bulk carrier off the Indian coast.

- Reuters