New Delhi, 30 January (HS): Indian Navy warships are deployed around the Indian Ocean to provide security in the maritime domain. The Indian Navy has foiled two piracy attacks in the Southern Arabian Sea within 36 hours. After rescuing the Iranian ship FV Iman, Indian Naval Commandos have freed the Pakistani ship Al Naimi from the clutches of pirates. In both these operations, along with freeing the merchant ships, 36 crew members have been safely rescued, of which 17 are Iranian and 19 Pakistani citizens.
Iranian fishing vessel MV Iman was hijacked on January 28 by Somali pirates in the Arabian Sea, 700 nautical miles west of Kochi. The Indian Navy sent its warship INS Sumitra to rescue the 17 crew members and kidnapped fishermen aboard the ship. The warship immediately began operations to rescue the hijacked ship. India safely rescued the fishing vessel Iman and disarmed the Somali pirates and drove them towards Somalia. ALH Dhruv helicopters present on the warship surrounded the hijacked ship from all sides, so that the pirates present on board could be warned. After rescuing the Iranian ship, Indian warship INS Sumitra left the area.
After completing this operation, the Indian warship was off the eastern coast of Somalia when it came to know of another pirate activity on 29 January. Indian Naval warship INS Sumitra, deployed on a mission in the Southern Arabian Sea, about 850 nautical miles west of Kochi, received information that Pakistani fishing vessel Al Naeemi and its crew of 19 Pakistani nationals were taken hostage. On this he was put into action to save the Pakistani ship from pirates. On January 29, warship Sumitra surrounded the hijacked ship with the help of its helicopter, forcing the Pakistani crew and 11 pirates to flee for the safe release of the ship.
Marine commandos of the Indian Navy took part in the operation to safely rescue the crew of the Pakistani boat. This was the second successful anti-piracy operation of the Indian Navy in the last 36 hours. Indian Navy’s indigenous offshore patrol vessel INS Sumitra, which conducted the second successful anti-piracy mission, was deployed for anti-piracy and maritime security operations east of Somalia and Gulf of Aden. The Indian Navy has once again proven its commitment in the region to take action against all maritime threats to ensure the safety of all seafarers and ships at sea.
Leave a Reply