The Indian Navy announced the successful rescue of over 100 individuals, including 27 Pakistanis and 30 Iranians, in various anti-piracy operations. These efforts, part of Operation Sankalp and other missions in the Arabian Sea, also involved responding to 13 attack incidents to save a total of 110 lives, including 45 Indians and 65 international citizens. The Navy has deployed 10 warships and surveillance aircraft to counter piracy and drone threats, ensuring the safety of Indian and international cargo traffic in the region.
During the operation last week, aerial surveillance was undertaken by Navy's P8I aircraft, Sea Guardian UAV, and the ship's integral helicopters along with the help of spotter drones.
Indian Navy captured 35 Somali pirates who had hijacked a bulk carrier and taken hostages. The pirates were brought to Mumbai on INS Kolkata after a major operation that involved marine commandos being para-dropped from an aircraft and exchanges of gunfire. The pirates had used the hijacked ship as a "mother pirate ship" to launch attacks on other commercial ships. The Navy acted in self-defense, disabling the pirates ship and compelling their surrender.
Warship INS Kolkata, carrying 35 pirates who were apprehended in an operation off the coast of Somalia, reached Mumbai on Saturday morning, the Navy said. These pirates were then handed over to the Mumbai police, it said.