New Delhi, 03 November (H.S.): The Indian Navy has rescued the hijacked fishing vessel ‘Azini’ from armed pirates in a high-risk operation lasting more than 48 hours off the coast of Somalia. All 20 crew members aboard the vessel were safely evacuated, with no casualties or injuries reported during the operation.

The rescue was carried out through a coordinated commando operation after the vessel was seized by a group of armed pirates off the northeastern coast of Somalia early last month.

The hijacking had posed a significant maritime security threat, with concerns that the fishing vessel could be used as a 'mother ship' to launch further pirate attacks against merchant vessels operating in the region.

Following the receipt of information about the incident, the Indian Navy promptly deployed a frontline warship on an operational mission to intercept the hijacked vessel. A maritime surveillance aircraft was also deployed to support the operation.

Indian Navy Captain Vivek Madhwal said that the vessel was successfully located through sustained surveillance and coordinated monitoring, following which its movements were closely tracked.

He said the Navy employed carefully planned non-lethal measures to restrict the vessel's movement and prevent it from escaping. Subsequently, Indian naval personnel launched a swift and well-coordinated tactical commando operation to take control of the hijacked vessel.

The Indian Air Force's C-17 aircraft carried out a precision airdrop to deploy Marine Commandos (MARCOS) for the mission. Following the operation, the threat posed by the armed pirates was neutralised, and all 20 crew members were safely rescued. No casualties or injuries were reported during the mission.

The successful operation highlighted the Indian Navy's high level of operational preparedness and its ability to execute complex maritime security missions through effective coordination among the three services.

It also reaffirmed India's unwavering commitment to maintaining its position as a first responder and preferred security partner in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

The Indian Navy reiterated its commitment to safeguarding seafarers, protecting vital maritime trade routes and ensuring a safe, secure and stable maritime environment across the Indian Ocean Region.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar