Indian Navy’s INS Kolkata successfully cornered and coerced all thirty-five pirates to surrender and ensured the safe evacuation of the 17 crew members on the evening of March 16, 2024 from a pirate vessel without any injury. This happened through concerted actions in 40 hours, when INS Kolkata carried out the interception of the pirate vessel Ruen almost 1400 nautical miles (2600 km) from the Indian coast.
The pirate ship was forced to stop through calibrated actions which were augmented by INS Subhadra, HALE RPA, P-8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft and MARCOS Prahar airdropped by the C-17 aircraft. The navy informed the vessel being sanitised for the presence of illegal arms, ammunition and contraband.
This comes a day after the Indian Navy thwarted an attempt made by Somali pirates to utilise a hijacked ship for acts of piracy. The ship which had been hijacked by the Somali Pirates on December 14, 2023 was intercepted by the Indian Navy warship on March 15, 2024. The Maltese flagged bulk cargo vessel ex-MV Ruen was intercepted by a warship and action was taken according to international law.
During the interception, the Ruen reportedly opened fire on the Indian Navy warship prompting a response from naval officials. Under regular circumstances, the Indian Navy usually deals with anti-piracy operations by apprehending pirates, disarming them and ensuring they do not pose any further threat. However, since the Somali pirates opened fire on the Indian Navy and were involved in an act of aggression, they will be persecuted on Indian soil under international law and guidelines.
Marine Commandoes of the Indian Navy (MARCOS) were also airdropped into the operational zone. In the operation, the C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft picked up MARCOS from an airbase on the west coast of India. The marines landed on the high seas along with their craft and manoeuvred towards the hijacked ship even as warning shots were fired to dissuade the pirates from taking any action.
Talking to an Indian Media agency, a navy official said “There is now also the Maritime Anti-Piracy Act which provided the government with an effective legal instrument to combat piracy. The External Affairs Minister Subramaniam Jaishankar said “At the time ensuring maritime security is the key to safeguarding India’s security and economic well-being.”
Under this Act, the parties and individuals convicted of piracy will be penalised. It also addresses the issue of death penalties as an exceptional case. In the absence of a specific law or a legal provision in the Indian Penal Code or the Criminal Procedure Code on piracy, this bill would provide an effective legal instrument to combat maritime piracy. It would enable us to discharge our obligations under the UNCLOS which we have signed in 1982 and ratified in 1995,” Jaishankar said.
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