BY A STAFF REPORTER: After saving an Iranian fishing vessel, Imam, the Indian Navy has rescued another Iranian-flagged fishing vessel Al Naeemi which was carrying 19 Pakistani nationals on Tuesday 30th January 800 miles off the Kochi coast.
The marine commandos in the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sumitra released the hostage crew from the armed Somali pirates. Previously, INS Sumitra rescued the Iranian fishing vessel, Imam, and its 17 Iranian crew members. A distress signal was sent on 28th January. After rescuing the members, the commandos boarded the fishing vessels and sanitized them for onward transit.
INS Sumitra is an indigenously built offshore patrol vessel that has been deployed to tackle increased piracy and conduct maritime security operations east of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden.