Over 100 people were rescued, including 27 from Pakistan and 30 Iranians, in different anti-piracy operations, the Indian Navy said in a press conference on Saturday.
In addition to its anti-piracy operations in the Arabian Sea, which include “Operation Sankalp” and other missions, the Indian Navy claimed that it has responded to 13 attack incidents, saving the lives of 110 people, including 65 foreign nationals and 45 Indians.
“During Operation Sankalp and other missions, the Indian Navy has saved 110 lives, including 45 Indians and 65 foreign nationals. Additionally, it has addressed 13 attack incidents, according to the Indian Navy.
Enhancing capabilities in the Arabian Sea, the Indian Navy has deployed 10 warships along with other surveillance aircraft to thwart any piracy or drone attacks in the region.
“Indian Navy has deployed 10 warships along with assets like P-8I surveillance aircraft, Sea guardian drones and a huge number of personnel to undertake anti-piracy and anti-drone operations in the Arabian Sea and adjoining areas to provide protection room to Indian and international cargo traffic,” the Indian Navy said.
Additionally, Indian Air Force’s C-17 transport aircraft crew which airdropped Marine Commandos and their equipment in the Arabian Sea for Special Operations against the sea pirates were also present at the Navy chief’s press conference on the Indian action.
The Indian Navy press conference came after it concluded its high-stakes anti-piracy operation in the Arabian Sea on Saturday.
Earlier today, as many as 35 Somali pirates, who were captured by the Indian Navy, were handed over to Mumbai Police after due formalities of Customs and Immigration.
Visuals from the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, showed the pirates standing in a queue as Mumbai Police assigned them chest numbers.
The operation involved a navy destroyer, a patrol ship, an Indian Air Force C-17 transporter flying more than 1,500 miles to airdrop marine commandos, a naval drone, a reconnaissance drone, and a P-8 surveillance jet, the Indian Navy release said.
Somali pirates’ capture of the MV Ruen in December last year marked the first successful hijacking of a vessel off the country’s coast since 2017.
But when the Ruen, now operated by a pirate crew, left Somali waters with the intent of committing acts of piracy on the high seas, the Indian Navy made moves to intercept it.
Based on the analysis of the surveillance information the Indian Navy was able to track the movement of the Pirate Ship Ruen and directed INS Kolkata to intercept the ship approximately 260 Nm East of Somalia.
On March 15, Kolkata caught up with Ruen early in the morning and used a ship-launched drone to confirm that there were armed pirates present.
After taking down the drone, the pirates opened fire on the Indian Naval warship. The pirate ship was forced to stop when the INS Kolkata, acting in a calculated reaction, turned off the ship’s navigational aids and steering system.
The pirates surrendered and released the pirate ship MV Ruen along with its original crew after INS Kolkata engaged in forceful negotiations and took precisely calculated, measured actions while staying close to the pirate ship.
On March 16, all 35 Somali pirates turned themselves in. Additionally, all 17 of the original crew members of the MV Ruen were safely and unharmed removed from the pirate ship.
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