Indian navy warship rescues 19 Pakistani nationals, fishing vessel hijacked by Somali pirates

NEW DELHI: The Indian Navy warship INS Sumitra thwarted the piracy try on an Iranian-flagged fishing vessel, Al Naeemi crusing off the East Coast of Somalia and efficiently rescued 19 Pakistani nationals on Monday, the Indian Navy mentioned in an official assertion.

It’s the second rescue operation inside a day for the Indian Navy after saving one other Iranian-flagged fishing vessel, FV Iman, from Somali pirates, which had 17 crew members onboard in its anti-piracy operations alongside the east coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden on Monday, an official assertion mentioned.

The Indian Navy mentioned that its warship INS Sumitra intercepted the distressed vessel and pressed into motion to find the fishing vessel, which had been boarded by pirates and saved 19 Pakistani nationwide crew members who have been taken hostage.

The warship acted in accordance with the established SOPs to coerce the pirates for the secure launch of the crew together with the boat and ensured the profitable launch of all 19 crew members together with the boat.

Subsequently, the ship additionally undertook confirmatory boarding to sanitise and verify on the well-being of the crew who have been held captive by the Somali pirates.

“INS Sumitra, over the course of lower than 36 hours, by way 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,” Navy mentioned in an announcement.(Companies)