“INS Kolkata, with the 35 apprehended pirates, returned to Mumbai on March 23 and handed over the pirates to the local police for further legal action in accordance with Indian laws, specifically the Maritime Anti Piracy Act 2022,” the Navy said.
The rescue involved marine commandos being para-dropped from a C-17 aircraft and exchanges of gunfire to rescue the hijacked merchant vessel MV Ruen and its 17-member crew in a major operation on the high seas. The pirates had commandeered MV Ruen as a “mother pirate ship” to launch attacks on other commercial ships in the region.
During the operation, the pirates even shot down a small spotter drone flown from destroyer INS Kolkata. An officer explained, “There is now also the Maritime Anti-Piracy Act, which was notified last year, to prosecute such cases. The usual practice is to set apprehended pirates adrift on their skiffs after disarming them to ensure they do not pose a threat to other vessels. But these 35 pirates opened fire on our warship. If they are let go, they will regroup and begin their piracy attacks again.”
Further, Indian Navy undertook long range deployment and paradrop of Marine Commandos over the sea in vicinity of the pirate ship using C17s in coordination with Indian Air Force. Aerial surveillance for the operation was undertaken by Indian Navy P8I aircraft, Sea Guardian UAV, and the ship’s integral helicopters and spotter drones.
“In the face of decisive action by the Indian Navy, all pirates onboard surrendered. The 35 pirates and 17 crew members were duly taken into custody and shifted to Indian Naval ships,” it said.
The Indian Navy searched and sanitised the ship with respect to arms, ammunition and contraband, rendering it safe. In addition, assessment of seaworthiness and essential repairs were undertaken by thenaval technical team, for making the ship fit for further voyage.
Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal stated, “In a reckless hostile act, the pirates shot down the ship-launched drone and fired at INS Kolkata. In a calibrated response as per international laws, INS Kolkata disabled the vessel’s steering system and navigational aids, forcing her to stop.” The C-17 aircraft executed “a precision airborne drop” of the marine commandos and two combat rubberised raiding craft boats to augment the operation.
Warship INS Kolkata, carrying the 35 pirates apprehended off the coast of Somalia, reached Mumbai on Saturday morning. These pirates were then handed over to the Mumbai police. The operation was part of Operation Sankalp, wherein Indian Navy ships are deployed in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden for the safety of seafarers and mercantile trade passing through the region.
(With inputs from TOI, PTI)
