In a dramatic turn of events, the Indian Navy has intercepted a pirate ship off the coast of Somalia, leading to gunfire being exchanged between the pirates and a Navy chopper. The incident occurred as the Navy attempted to approach a hijacked vessel, the Malta-flagged bulk cargo ship ex-MV Ruen, which had been seized by pirates on December 14.
A video shared by the Indian Navy captured the intense moment when a Somali pirate fired shots at the Navy chopper as it hovered over the hijacked ship. The Navy described the hijacked vessel as being used for “acts of piracy” after its capture by the pirates.
In response to the escalating situation, the Indian Navy issued a statement asserting its actions were in self-defence. “#IndianNavy thwarts designs of Somali pirates to hijack ships plying through the region by intercepting ex-MV Ruen,” the statement read. The Navy clarified that its interception of the hijacked vessel occurred on March 15, following which the pirates onboard opened fire on the warship.
“The vessel opened fire on the warship, which is taking actions iaw international law, in self-defence & to counter piracy, with minimal force necessary to neutralize the pirates’ threat to shipping and seafarers,” the Navy’s statement added. The Navy has also called on the pirates to surrender and release any hostages they may be holding onboard.
This incident comes on the heels of another piracy-related response by the Indian Navy, wherein they responded to an SOS call from a Bangladesh-flagged bulk carrier seized by pirates off the Somali coast. The pirates had taken the crew of 23 members hostage earlier in the week, prompting swift action from the Navy.
Sources By Agencies