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The India-zone reported on Monday that the Indian Navy is presently working to repatriate the 35 Somali pirates who turned themselves in over the weekend after a taxing 40-hour mid-sea operation. The ‘Maritime Anti-Piracy Act’, which was formally enacted last year, will allow the pirates, who had taken over the MV Ruen to attack other ships, to be prosecuted in India. This course of action was confirmed by an official who was directly involved in the incident.
Why are 35 pirates facing legal action?
Disarming and releasing imprisoned pirates back onto their skiffs is standard procedure in order to keep them from endangering other ships. But in this case, things got worse when the thirty-five pirates started shooting at our ships. The cited officer voiced worries that these pirates would reorganize and carry out their illegal operations if they were allowed to go free. This episode serves as a reminder of the increasing threat that piracy poses, especially to commercial vessels. Piracy has increased since the Israel-Hamas war broke out on October 7 of last year.
In 40 hours, how were Somali pirates apprehended?
The Indian Navy declared on Saturday that it had successfully carried out an interception operation to foil the plans of Somali pirates who were trying to take over ships that were passing through the area, which is around 2,600 kilometers off the coast of India. The ex-MV Ruen, which had been taken over by Somali pirates on December 14, was the target of the interception. It had supposedly gone out as a pirate ship with the goal of engaging in high seas piracy.
The Indian Navy said in a statement that Somali pirates took control of the ex-MV Ruen close to the Yemeni island of Socotra. The Indian Navy quickly dispatched its forces to intercept the pirate ship and stop any more acts of piracy in the area after learning of the vessel’s movements.
The Indian Navy warship INS Kolkata conducted the interception operation after engaging the former MV Ruen on Friday. When the pirates on the taken-over ship started shooting at the Indian navy, the situation became more serious and the Navy retaliated. Following the altercation, the Indian Navy conducted a 40-hour operation in which it neutralized the danger posed by the pirates and captured the ex-MV Ruen, so preventing a possible hijacking incident in the area.
seventeen foreign workers were saved.
The Indian Navy’s INS Kolkata conducted a well-coordinated operation that resulted in the capture and surrender of all 35 pirates throughout the long 40-hour operation. Naval authorities have reported that INS Kolkata successfully surrounded the pirate vessel by using measured tactics and strategic movements. This resulted in the pirates surrendering without causing any harm to the 17 crew members who were from Angola, Myanmar, and Bulgaria.
This operation was not only successful because of INS Kolkata; other naval assets and specialist forces also played a significant role in its success. Alongside P8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft and high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft, which were essential for surveillance and intelligence gathering, INS Subhadra served a critical supporting role. Throughout the operation, these aircraft assets helped to ensure the crew members’ safety and track the movements of the pirate vessel.
The Navy’s tactical capabilities were further reinforced by the deployment of MARCOS commandos and Combat Rubberized Raiding Craft (CRRC) boats in addition to aircraft support. These special commando teams, who are well-known for their proficiency in maritime operations, played a crucial role in carrying out accurate movements and protecting the region around the pirate ship. Notably, a C-17 plane air-dropped a few MARCOS commandos into the area, demonstrating the Navy’s willingness to use creative means to accomplish goals.
The engagement of numerous naval vessels, aerial surveillance tools, and specialist commando forces highlighted the all-encompassing and multifaceted strategy implemented by the Indian Navy to successfully counter maritime threats. In addition to protecting the crew members from possible harm, this effective action showed the Navy’s steadfast dedication to upholding peace and security in the area’s maritime domain.
