The Bharatiya military shared that an Bharatiya warship, INS Chennai has reached a ship called MV Lila Norfolk, which was taken over by hijackers near Somalia. Bharat Navy commandos got on the captured ship, and all 21 people on board, including 15 Bharat, were safely taken off, according to the Navy.
Hijacked in SomaliaAfter receiving the information that a Liberian-flagged ship ‘MV Lila Norfolk’ with 15 Bharatiya crew members on board had been hijacked, Bharatiya Navy on Friday said that it was closely monitoring it and has been successful in establishing communication with the crew.
Upon being hijacked by five to six unknown armed personnel, who boarded the vessel on Thursday evening, the ship sent a message to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.
The Bharatiya warship, INS Chennai is moving toward the hijacked vessel to tackle the situation. It was diverted and deployed to assist the vessel. Along with it, a naval aircraft overflew the hijacked vessel and established contact.
The official statement released by the Bharatiya Navy stated that it remains committed to ensuring the safety of merchant shipping vessels in the region along with international partners and friendly foreign countries. The Navy spokesperson, Commander Mehul Karnik told media that the crew members were in their strong room and were operating the vessel from there.
Significantly, the attack comes days after a Maltese-flagged vessel was seized by unknown attackers in the Arabian Sea, putting maritime security again in the spotlight. No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the assault, however, the recent attacks in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea have led to growing concerns about shipping in the world.
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