The Indian Navy last week rescued a hijacked Iranian fishing ship operated by a 23-strong Pakistani crew. The Navy ran the operation for 12 hours, employing "intense coercive tactical measures" to rescue the ship as well as the crew, it said in a statement.
Specialist teams of the Indian Navy were sanitising the Iranian ship. They are also checking its seaworthiness. The ship will be later escorted to its destination so that it can undertake its regular fishing activities.
The Iranian-flagged FV AI-Kambar was intercepted by INS Sumedha on March 29, the Navy's statement said. It was later joined by the guided missile frigate INS Trishul. The Indian Navy said the pirates on board the ship were made to surrender and the Pakistani crew was rescued.
"After more than 12 hrs of intense coercive tactical measures as per the SOPs, the pirates on board the hijacked FV were forced to surrender. The crew, comprising 23 Pakistani nationals, have been safely rescued," it said.
"Indian Naval specialist teams are presently undertaking thorough sanitisation and seaworthiness checks of the FV in order to escort her to a safe area for resuming normal fishing activities," the Navy added.
