Indian Navy’s INS Sumitra rescues Pakistani sailors kidnapped by Somali Pirates in Arabian Sea

INS Sumitra, Indian Navy’s warship, carried out yet another anti-piracy mission in Arabian Sea in less than 24 hours on Tuesday. According to the Indian Navy, INS Sumitra rescued 19 Pakistani sailors, who were taken hostage by Somali Pirates. This rescue mission comes less than a day after INS Sumitra rescued sailors on an Iranian-flagged fishing vehicle.

According to the Indian Navy’s statement, the armed pirates seized control of Al Naeemi, an Iranian-flagged fishing vessel on Monday, capturing all 19 crew members. All these sailors are of Pakistani nationality. Indian Navy’s warship intercepting the fishing vessel, compelling the pirates to release the hostages. This is the second time in the last 24 hours that INS Sumitra has answered an SOS by ships hijacked by the pirates.

The Indian Navy further said that deployment of the warships in the Arabian Sea is also aiming to prevent pirates from hijacking the fishing vessels and using them as ‘mother ships’ to target other vessels in the region.

Latest reports say that Indian Navy’s Marine Commandos were part of the rescue operations that freed the 19 Pakistani sailors. The mission also included the Navy using the choppers.