The Navy, which currently has six warships on patrol in the Arabian Sea for anti-piracy missions as well as counter-drone operations, is looking to enhance its presence and additional assets are likely to be deployed in coming days.
Indian Navy s elite marine commandos successfully carried out a daring rescue operation in the North Arabian Sea to save 21 crew members, including 15 Indians, from the Liberian-flagged vessel MV Lila Norfolk. The incident, which took place on January 5, 2024, involved a swift response to an attempted hijacking. The skilled commandos swiftly intervened when they received information about the hijacking attempt
MV Lila Norfolk Hijack: "All 21 crew including 15 Indians onboard the vessel were safely evacuated from the citadel," Indian Navy s spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said. "Sanitisation by MARCOs commandos has confirmed the absence of the hijackers. The attempt of hijacking by the pirates was probably abandoned with the forceful warning by Indian Navy s maritime patrol aircraft of interception by naval warship," he said.
The Indian Navy has also issued an alert that six incidents of hijacking of dhows by an unknown number of perpetrators has taken place off Somalia in the last two months. "The perpetrators may likely use the hijacked dhow as a mother ship in attacking/ hijacking other vessels. Further, the analysis of past incidents has revealed that the mother ship (dhow) remains in the proximity of MV after boarding till the pirates establish control over the vessel as a possible means for a quick exit in case of intervention by naval forces," the alert reads, cautioning vessels to exercise extreme caution, remain vigilant and maintain strict anti-piracy watch and measures.