Indian Navy rescues Pakistani Sailors kidnapped by pirates in Arabian Sea. X/@indiannavy
Indian warship INS Sumitra carried out one other profitable anti-piracy operation off the East Coast of Somalia, rescuing 19 Pakistani sailors from and their fishing vessel Al Naeemi from 11 Somali Pirates on Monday.
This was the second anti-piracy operation carried out by Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sumitra after it responded to an SOS name from one other fishing vessel on Sunday.
“INS Sumitra was again pressed into action, to locate and intercept another Iranian flagged fishing vessel Al Naeemi, which had been boarded by pirates and her Crew (19 Pakistani Nationals) taken hostage. Responding swiftly to the developing situation Sumitra intercepted the FV (fishing vessel) on PM 29 Jan 24 and through coercive posturing and effective deployment of her integral helo and boats compelled the safe release of the crew and the vessel,” the Indian Navy stated.
Associated Articles
“The ship also undertook confirmatory boarding to sanitise and also to check on the well-being of the crew who were held captive by the Somali pirates,” the Indian Navy added.
INS Sumitra rescues 36 crew from two hijacked vessels
In line with a press release issued by the Indian Navy, INS Sumitra, over the course of lower than 36 hours, by means of swift, persistent and relentless efforts has rescued two hijacked Fishing Vessels together with 36 Crew (17 Iranian and 19 Pakistani) in Southern Arabian Sea roughly 850 nm West of Kochi, and prevented misuse of those Fishing Vessels as Mom Ships for additional acts of Piracy on Service provider Vessels.
“The Indian Navy has once again proved its commitment in the region to act against all maritime threats in order to ensure safety of all mariners and vessels at sea,” the assertion added.
INS Sumitra is Indian Navy’s indigenous Offshore Patrol Vessel.
Earlier on Monday the Indian Navy stated, INS Sumitra was deployed for Anti-Piracy and Maritime Safety Operations East of Somalia and Gulf of Aden. The warship on PM 28 Jan 24 had responded to a misery message relating to hijacking of an Iranian flagged Fishing Vessel (FV) Iman, which had been boarded by pirates and the crew taken as hostages. The FV was intercepted by INS Sumitra and following the SOPs and coercive posturing the vessel and her Crew (17 Iranian Nationals) have been safely rescued within the early hours of 29 Jan 24. FV Iman was sanitised and launched for onward transit.
The Indian Navy has considerably elevated its surveillance equipment within the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden after a number of service provider vessels have been focused by Iran-backed Yemen’s Houthi terrorists within the Crimson Sea with missiles and drones following the Israel-Hamas struggle which started on 7 October, 2023.
The Indian Navy has deployed frontline destroyers and frigates in view of the current assaults on service provider vessels.