Iranian vessel 'Al Kamar 786' hijacked by Somali pirates in the Arabian Sea, (Inset) one surrendered pirate (DD News)
New Delhi
At least 23 Pakistani nationals were rescued from the clutches of eight Somali pirates during a 12-hour-long operation in the Arabian Sea.
The dramatic rescue began in the early hours of Friday, when the Indian Navy warship INS Sumedha intercepted the hijacked vessel, FV Al-Kambar, as it was being held captive by pirates. INS Sumedha was soon joined by the guided missile frigate INS Trishul to bolster the operation, the Indian Navy said.
Utilising their tactical expertise and strategic coordination, Indian naval forces initiated negotiations with the pirates, compelling them to surrender without bloodshed. The surrender marked a decisive victory for the Indian Navy in combating piracy and ensuring the safety of maritime activities in the region.
Following the successful apprehension of the pirates, Indian Naval specialist teams embarked on the FV Al-Kambar to undertake thorough sanitisation and seaworthiness checks. These meticulous examinations aim to ensure the vessel's safety before escorting it to a secure area, enabling the resumption of normal fishing activities for its crew.
The Indian Navy spokesperson released the images of the operation, as it was going on, with more details in the following post on X:
On Friday evening, the Indian Navy responded to a potential piracy attack on an Iranian fishing vessel in the Arabian Sea, and diverted two naval ships to intercept the hijacked vessel.
The Indian Navy received input regarding a potential piracy incident onboard the Iranian fishing vessel 'Al Kambar'.
Following this, two Indian Naval ships deployed in Arabian Sea for maritime security operations were diverted to intercept the hijacked fishing vessel.
At the time of the incident, the Iranian vessel was approximately 90 Nm south-west of Socotra and was reported to have been boarded by nine armed pirates.
The hijacked fishing vessel was intercepted on March 29.
The rescue was all over social media with 23 Pakistani trending on X in India since Saturday morning.
"Indian Navy remains committed to ensuring maritime security in the region and safety of seafarers, irrespective of nationalities," the statement added.
Notably, the Indian Navy has carried out several high-octane operations against piracy attacks lately. Earlier this month, the Indian Navy in a daring operation, intercepted the under-attack pirate ship Ruen, sailing almost 2600 km from the shores of the Indian Coast, and forced the pirate ship to stop through calibrated actions.
The Indian Navy reiterated its unwavering commitment to maintaining maritime security and ensuring the safety of seafarers navigating through these perilous waters. This action by the Indian Navy serves as a testament to India's resolve to combat piracy and uphold international maritime laws, the Indian Navy said in a statement.
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