- By Vivek Raj
- Sat, 30 Mar 2024 07:50 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Indian Navy successfully rescued an Iranian fishing vessel, FV Al-Kambar, which was hijacked by armed pirates off the Socotra Archipelago in the northwest Indian Ocean. The ship, operated by a crew of 23 Pakistani nationals, was intercepted by INS Sumedha on March 29, with further assistance provided by the guided missile frigate INS Trishul.
#WATCH | The crew comprising 23 Pakistani nationals thanked the Indian Navy and raise 'India Zindabad' slogans after the Indian Navy’s specialist team protected them from nine armed pirates, and completed sanitisation and seaworthiness checks of FV Al-Kambar.
— ANI (@ANI) March 30, 2024
The crew were… https://t.co/AREXZTtqiR pic.twitter.com/0QE4B7GfSe
The crew expressed gratitude towards the Indian Navy and chanted 'India Zindabad' slogans following their rescue.
In a statement issued by the Indian Navy, it was revealed that after a 12-hour operation involving "intense coercive tactical measures," the pirates onboard were forced to surrender, ensuring the safety of the Pakistani crew.
"After more than 12 hrs of intense coercive tactical measures as per the SOPs, the pirates on board the hijacked FV were forced to surrender. The crew, comprising 23 Pakistani nationals, have been safely rescued," the statement said.
Following the successful rescue operation, the Indian Navy's specialist teams conducted thorough sanitisation and seaworthiness checks of FV Al-Kambar. The crew underwent comprehensive medical examinations before being cleared to resume their fishing activities.
The nine pirates involved in the hijacking are being brought to India for further legal action under the Maritime Anti-Piracy Act of 2022.
Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar highlighted earlier this month the force's commitment to taking affirmative action to enhance safety and security in the Indian Ocean region.
The Indian Navy's maritime security operations, including anti-piracy, anti-missiles, and anti-drones operations, have resulted in the saving of 110 lives, including 45 Indians and 65 foreign nationals, during the 'Op Sankalp' initiative over a 100-day period, as reported on March 23.
