Mumbai, Jan 31 (IANS) For the first time, an Ethiopian and 14 Somalian pirates would face Indian laws for attempting to hijack a foreign ship and fighting with the Indian Navy near Minicoy Isles, off the south-west coast of the country, a police official said Monday.

The pirates, who had jumped off their mother ship after it was destroyed by the navy, were rescued from the sea and brought to Mumbai Monday morning.

"They have been arrested under various Indian laws which they have violated. They have all been sent for a medical check-up and shall be presented before a magistrate for remand Tuesday," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Coastal Security) Khalid Quaiser told IANS.

The pirates have been booked under Indian Penal Code Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 363 (kidnapping), 148 (rioting with armed deadly weapons), and different sections of the Passport Act, he added.

They had attempted to board and attack a Bahamas flagged vessel MV Verdi last Friday which sent out an SOS alerting the Indian Coast Guard-Kochi unit and Indian Navy.

As a Coast Gurar aircraft reached the scene, the pirate vessel, commandeered Thai trawler Prantalay attempted to escape from the area.

It also exchanged gunfire with an Indian Navy ship Cankarso patrolling the waters and then caught fire and sank. The 15 pirates and 20 Thai and Myanmarese crew members, who were held hostages, jumped into the sea and were rescued by the Indian Navy and ICG.