Indian Navy commandos were sent to the ship (Ship Hijacked In Arabian Sea) for search and rescue operations. After searching the entire ship, the commandos confirmed that the hijackers were not there.
New Delhi: Indian Navy commandos safely evacuated all 21 crew members including 15 Indians from the ship hijacked in the Arabian Sea. People aboard the hijacked cargo ship ‘MV Leela Norfolk’ were rescued off the coast of Somalia on Friday evening. Following the SOS call from the 84,000 tonne ship, the Navy immediately deployed a warship, maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters and Predator MQ9B drones. During the call, information was given from the ship that five to six unknown people armed with weapons had entered there. The video that surfaced is of the moment when the Indian Navy safely rescued a hijacked ship in the Arabian Sea, for this the Naval Commandos conducted a rescue operation.
Pirates fled in fear of commandos
Indian Navy commandos were sent to the ship for search and rescue operations. After searching the entire ship, the commandos confirmed that the hijackers were not there. “The hijacking attempt by the pirates may have been aborted following the prompt response and warning by the commandos,” the Navy said in a statement. The Navy shared a video of the high-voltage drama that unfolded on board the ship in the middle of the sea. Commandos are seen boarding the ship and carrying out the operation.
#IndianNavy’s Swift Response to the Hijacking Attempt of MV Lila Norfolk in the North Arabian Sea.
All 21 crew (incl #15Indians) onboard safely evacuated from the citadel.Sanitisation by MARCOs has confirmed absence of the hijackers.
The attempt of hijacking by the pirates… https://t.co/OvudB0A8VV pic.twitter.com/616q7avNjg
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) January 5, 2024
Steve Kunzer, Chief Executive of Dubai-based Leela Global, thanked the Indian Navy for the rescue of the ship. “We would also like to thank the professionalism of our crew who responded safely and responsibly in these circumstances,” he said in a statement.
Attempt to hijack ship amid attacks by Houthi rebels
This attempt to hijack the ship came amid growing concerns over Houthi rebels intensifying attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea amid the Israel-Hamas war. Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar issued instructions to deal strictly with such maritime incidents. The Liberian-flagged ship MV Chem Pluto with 21 crew members on board was also the target of a drone attack off the west coast of India on December 23. On the same day, another commercial oil tanker heading towards India fell victim to a suspected drone attack in the southern Red Sea. A team of 25 Indian crew members were present on the ship. In another incident, the Malta-flagged ship MV Rouen was hijacked by pirates on December 14.
