Warship INS Kolkata Reaches Mumbai With 35 Pirates Nabbed Off Somalia Coast

Mumbai: Indian Navy’s warship INS Kolkata reached Mumbai port on Saturday morning along with 35 pirates who were apprehended in an operation off the coast of Somalia.

These arrested pirates were handed over to the Mumbai police.

“INS Kolkata, with the 35 apprehended pirates, returned to Mumbai on March 23 and handed over the pirates to the local police for further legal action in accordance with Indian laws, specifically the Maritime Anti Piracy Act 2022,” the Navy said.

In an operation lasting over 40 hours, on March 15 morning. The ship was being used as a Mother Ship for undertaking piracy attacks and hijacking of merchantmen, it said.

The vessel, upon sighting INS Kolkata, reversed course and started heading towards the Somali Coast. Several armed pirates were observed on upper deck of the ship, the Navy said.

INS Kolkata directed the pirate ship to stop for investigation in accordance with International Law, especially the United Nations Conventions on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS).

However, the pirate ship refused to comply and instead opened fire.

“INS Kolkata thereafter acted in self-defence and used kinetic measures required to disable the ship and compel the pirates to surrender,” it said.

INS Subhadra joined INS Kolkata in the operation. Further, Indian Navy undertook long range deployment and paradrop of Marine Commandos over the sea in vicinity of the pirate ship using C17s in coordination with Indian Air Force.

Aerial surveillance for the operation was undertaken by Indian Navy P8I aircraft, Sea Guardian UAV, and the ship’s integral helicopters and spotter drones.

“In the face of decisive action by the Indian Navy, all pirates onboard surrendered. The 35 pirates and 17 crew members were duly taken into custody and shifted to Indian Naval ships,” it said.