Indian Navy Rescues 19 Pakistani Sailors Kidnapped by Pirates in the Arabian Sea

Indian Navy Heroically Rescues 19 Pakistani Sailors Kidnapped by Pirates in the Arabian Sea

Indian warship INS Sumitra saved 19 Pakistani sailors on Monday after pirates took over their fishing boat near the east coast of Somalia. This was the second time the warship acted against pirates in just 36 hours, according to the Indian Navy.

An Iranian fishing boat, FV Al Naeemi, with 19 Pakistani crew members, was attacked by 11 armed pirates. The Navy warship stepped in, stopped the fishing boat, and forced the pirates to let the hostages go.

#INSSumitra Carries out 2nd Successful #AntiPiracy Ops – Rescuing 19 Crew members & Vessel from Somali Pirates.
Having thwarted the Piracy attempt on FV Iman, the warship has carried out another successful anti-piracy ops off the East Coast of Somalia, rescuing Fishing Vessel Al… https://t.co/QZz9bCihaU pic.twitter.com/6AonHw51KX

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) January 30, 2024

Acting quickly in response to the unfolding situation, Sumitra stopped the fishing vessel on the evening of January 29, 2024. By using a strong and persuasive approach, along with deploying its helicopter and boats effectively, the Navy successfully ensured the safe release of the crew and the fishing vessel, the Navy explained in a statement.

The Navy team then went on board the vessel to make sure the crew was okay.

Just a day after INS Sumitra quickly answered a distress call from another Iranian fishing boat, FV Iman, seized by Somali pirates, the Navy successfully saved the vessel's 17 Iranian crew members.

In less than 36 hours, INS Sumitra rescued two hijacked fishing vessels with a total of 36 crew members (17 Iranian and 19 Pakistani) in the Southern Arabian Sea, about 850 nautical miles west of Kochi. The Navy's swift and persistent actions stopped the misuse of these fishing vessels as mother ships for more piracy on merchant vessels, the official statement explained.

INS Sumitra is a patrol ship from the Indian Navy used for stopping pirates and keeping the seas safe. It's been sent to patrol the waters near Somalia and the Gulf of Aden.