Indian Naval forces are currently engaged in a detailed search operation in the North Arabian Sea on January 6, with the objective of locating the pirates responsible for a recent hijacking attempt. This effort follows their successful intervention to protect a merchant ship carrying 21 crew, including 15 Indian nationals.
The Indian Navy successfully prevented the hijacking of the Liberian-flagged MV Lila Norfolk on January 5, ensuring the safety of all crew members. The crew is now focused on repairing the vessel’s propulsion, power, and steering systems. Once these repairs are complete, the MV Lila Norfolk will continue its journey, escorted by an Indian naval warship.
To support this mission, the Navy deployed a range of assets, including a warship, the P-8I maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters, and MQ9B Predator drones. The deployment was in response to an alert from the MV Lila Norfolk on January 4, which reported the boarding of the ship by unidentified armed individuals.
The rescue operation on January 5 was led by the Indian Navy’s elite marine commandos, who boarded the vessel from the INS Chennai, a frontline warship. The Navy has since released a statement detailing its actions during this incident.
