Indian Navy Reaches on Hijacked Vessel; Marine Commandos Evacuate Crew

India’s Navy commandos from the warship INS Chennai successfully intercepted and reached the hijacked vessel MV Lila Norfolk and are now going to conduct sanitisation operations there, ANI reported citing military officials.

The elite navy commandos have reportedly boarded the hijacked ship on the Somalian coast. The navy has also launched a helicopter, issuing a warning to the pirates to leave the hijacked vessel and the vessel has been under the surveillance of the maritime patrol aircraft and predator drone.

According to the report, the Indian crew on board are safe and there were at least 15 Indian crew members at the vessel. The navy said that all 21 crew members including the Indian crew were safely evacuated. The Indian Navy got the information about the hijacked vessel on Thursday.

“INS Chennai diverted from her Anti-Piracy patrol and intercepted the MV at 1515hrs today, on 5th Jan. MV was kept under continuous surveillance using Maritime Patrol Aircraft, Predator MQ9B and integral helos. The Indian Navy Marine Commandos present onboard the Mission Deployed warship boarded the MV and have commenced the Sanitisation”, the Indian Navy said, detailing the developments.

Patrol aircraft flew over the vessel early on Friday, establishing contacts with the crew members. The crew members informed that they were safe. According to the Navy, the aircraft is continuing to observe the movement of the carrier as a naval ship is approaching the vessel.

The attempt of hijacking by the pirates was probably abandoned with the forceful warning by the Indian Navy, MPA of interception by Indian Naval warship,” The Indian Navy added.

Indian Navy had, however, enhanced its surveillance in the area amid rising maritime disruption in the Arabia Sea.