NEW DELHI, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The Indian navy seized a cargo vessel hijacked by Somali pirates and rescued 17 crew members after forcing 35 pirates to surrender, the navy said Sunday.
Using coordinated tactical maneuvers and aerial support from HALE RPA, P8I, and MARCOS PRAHARs, the Indian navy forced the 35 pirates to surrender without resistance on Friday, a navy spokesman said, adding that the vessel was subsequently sanitized for any potential illegal arms, ammunition, or contraband.
The armed Somali pirates hijacked the vessel in December last year and then used it to hijack ships on the high seas off the east coast of Somalia. ■