Pakistani crew rescued from Somali pirates by Indian Navy

Indian naval forces rescue two fishing vessels along with 36 crew including 19 Pakistanis in Arabian Sea off Somalia

NEW DELHI:

The Indian Navy has conducted two anti-piracy operations in the Arabian Sea off Somalia and rescued two hijacked fishing vessels along with 36 crew, according to an official statement on Tuesday.

The Navy said that Indian Naval Ship Sumitra, deployed for anti-piracy and maritime security operations East of Somalia and Gulf of Aden, rescued crew from two vessels hijacked by pirates.

According to the Navy, in an anti-piracy operation off the East Coast of Somalia, fishing vessel Al Naeemi and her crew- 19 Pakistani nationals were rescued from 11 Somali pirates.

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It also said on Sunday, the Navy responded to a distress message regarding the hijacking of an Iranian-flagged fishing vessel Iman.

"The FV was intercepted by INS Sumitra and following the SOPs(Standard operating procedure) and coercive posturing, the vessel and her crew (17 Iranian Nationals) were safely rescued in the early hours of 29 Jan 24," the statement said.

Indian Navy said over the course of "less than 36 hours", through "swift, persistent and relentless efforts," has rescued two hijacked Fishing Vessels along with 36 crew (17 Iranian and 19 Pakistani) in the Southern Arabian Sea and prevented "the misuse of these fishing vessels as mother ships for further acts of Piracy on merchant vessels."