A crew of 23 Pakistani nationals, rescued by the Indian Navy from a hijacked Iranian fishing vessel in the Arabian Sea, expressed gratitude by chanting India Zindabad on Saturday. The Navy intervened in an anti-piracy operation to protect them from nine armed pirates.Before allowing the crew to resume fishing activities, they underwent a thorough medical examination. The nine pirates who surrendered are being brought to India for further legal proceedings under the Maritime Anti-Piracy Act, 2022. Indian Navy teams have completed safety checks on the fishing vessel Al-Kambar.Successful Anti-Piracy Operation by the #IndianNavy.After successfully forcing surrender of the nine armed pirates, #IndianNavys specialist teams have completed sanitisation & seaworthiness checks of FV Al-Kambar.The crew comprising 23 Pakistani nationals were given a thorough… https://t.co/APEyIWmU9e pic.twitter.com/c6TbfL4Jrc— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) March 30, 2024How did rescue operation unfoldThe hijacked vessel was intercepted by INS Sumedha on Friday, with INS Trishul later joining the operation. After more than 12 hours of tactical measures, the pirates surrendered, ensuring the safe rescue of the crew, all Pakistani nationals.Incidents of piracy in the eastern Red Sea have resurfaced after nearly a decade, coinciding with Western forces efforts to protect shipping from attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi militants in the Red Sea.Indian Navys commitmentAdmiral Hari Kumar emphasized the Indian Navys commitment to preventing piracy. Operation Sankalp, which recently concluded its hundred-day mission, showcased the Navys efforts against drone, missile, and piracy threats in the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea.Admiral Kumar emphasized the importance of sustained operations for ocean safety and stability, noting the high pace of naval operations with 11 submarines and 30 warships deployed across different oceanic regions.
