NEW DELHI, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Indian naval ship (INS) "Sumitra" successfully carried out an anti-piracy operation off the east coast of Somalia, rescuing fishing vessel "Al Naeemi" and its crew, said the Indian navy in an official statement on Tuesday.
"INS Sumitra" had been deployed for anti-piracy and maritime security operations in the Gulf of Aden.
The warship received an alert on Monday from the ship "Al Naeemi" about it being taken hostage. The Indian naval ship intercepted the Iranian ship, and through coercive posturing secured the safe release of the crew, including 19 Pakistani nationals, and the vessel.
A day earlier the warship had responded to a distress message regarding hijacking of an Iranian flagged fishing vessel "Iman," which had been boarded by pirates and the crew taken as hostages.
The fishing boat was intercepted by "INS Sumitra." Following the SOPs and coercive posturing, the vessel and its crew, including 17 Iranian nationals, were safely rescued. ■