MOGADISHU, Somalia -- A Somali pirate says pirates are holding on to Indian hostages even after a ransom was paid in retaliation for recent arrests by the Indian Navy.

The pirate, Hassan Farah, said the pirates in the stronghold of Haradhere have taken that collective decision.

A ransom was dropped Friday for the release of the ship Asphalt Venture and its crew. The non-Indian crew members were released.

Friday's pirate action marks a major departure from the standard pirate business model of release-for-ransom and could complicate international military efforts against the piracy trade.

Earlier this year pirates killed four American hostages while U.S. Navy warships were shadowing the hijacked yacht, the first time pirates had done that.