In a recent incident, the Indian Navy warship INS Sumitra successfully rescued 19 Pakistani sailors from the Iranian-flagged fishing vessel FV Al Naeemi, which had been hijacked by armed pirates off the east coast of Somalia. This marked the second anti-piracy operation conducted by INS Sumitra within a 36-hour period, as it had responded to an SOS call from another Iranian-flagged fishing vessel, FV Iman, the day before.
The FV Al Naeemi was boarded by 11 armed pirates who took the 19 Pakistani crew members hostage. Acting swiftly, INS Sumitra intercepted the fishing vessel on January 29 and, through effective deployment of its helicopter and boats, compelled the pirates to release the hostages. The Indian Navy personnel subsequently boarded the vessel to ensure the well-being of the crew.
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Indian Navy: INS Sumitra
The timely rescue followed INS Sumitra’s response to the hijacking of FV Iman, where 17 Iranian crew members were successfully rescued by the Indian Navy. In less than 36 hours, INS Sumitra’s relentless efforts prevented the misuse of the hijacked fishing vessels as potential Mother Ships for further acts of piracy in the Southern Arabian Sea.
INS Sumitra, an indigenous offshore patrol vessel of the Indian Navy, is specifically deployed for anti-piracy and maritime security operations in the east of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden. The official statement highlighted the vessel’s crucial role in maintaining security in the region.
Earlier, the Indian Navy’s guided missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam, currently on an anti-piracy mission, played a vital role in extinguishing a significant blaze on a merchant vessel that had been struck by a missile in the Gulf of Aden on Saturday night.The Navy personnel boarded the vessel subsequently to check on the well-being of the crew.
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