New Delhi: The Indian navy delivered 35 Somali pirates to Mumbai police on Saturday, following 100 days of relentless anti-piracy operations in the eastern Red Sea region, witnessing a resurgence of piracy after nearly a decade.
India, asserting its status as the predominant maritime force in the Gulf of Aden and the northern Arabian Sea, apprehended the pirates from the cargo ship Ruen last week, three months after its hijacking off the Somali coast.
Exploiting the diversion of Western forces’ focus towards safeguarding shipping from Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi militants’ attacks in the Red Sea, pirates have engaged in over 20 hijackings or attempted seizures since November. This surge in piracy activities has escalated insurance and security expenses, exacerbating the crisis for global shipping companies.
Read More: Putin Labels Moscow Assault as ‘Barbaric Terrorist Act’; Declares National Mourning on March 24
With the simultaneous assaults by the Houthis, expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amid Israel’s conflict with Hamas, and the spike in piracy incidents, commercial traffic in the region has witnessed a significant decline since November, compelling ships to opt for longer routes around southern Africa, as noted by India’s navy.
The captured Somali pirates face potential life sentences under India’s 2022 anti-piracy law, marking the first prosecutions under this legislation, which empowers the navy to apprehend and prosecute pirates on the high seas. Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar disclosed that the Somalis utilized the Ruen as their “mother ship” to launch attacks on other vessels, with all 17 crew members successfully rescued by commandoes.
Read More: Russia Successfully Apprehends All Crocus Terrorists
India has swiftly responded to 18 incidents, deploying 21 ships and rotating 5,000 personnel, conducting boardings and investigations on over 1,000 vessels, as stated by the navy. The unprecedented naval presence has seen more than a dozen warships deployed on certain days.
“Our mission is to ensure safety, security, and stability in the region,” emphasized Kumar. “We are committed to being the first responder and the preferred security partner to ensure the safety, security, and stability of the Indian Ocean region.”
During the mission since mid-December, there have been 57 drone or missile attacks or sightings. India’s navy has assisted attacked vessels, recovering debris from drones launched by the Houthis, with whom Kumar stated, “we really have no quarrel.”
Kumar highlighted the recovery of a plywood drone capable of traveling 1,600 km (1,000 miles) equipped with a basic four-stroke engine and “elementary” electronics, emphasizing its simplistic manufacturing process.
“It doesn’t require any very complicated tools to develop or manufacture these drones,” Kumar remarked.
