Indian warship INS Sumitra rescued 19 Pakistani crew of a fishing vessel after their Iranian-flagged fishing vessel was attacked by pirates on the east coast of Somalia, officials said on Tuesday.

This is the second rescue operation in two days after the ship thwarted a piracy attempt on Iranian fishing vessel Iman on Monday.

“INS Sumitra Carries out 2nd Successful AntiPiracy Ops – Rescuing 19 Crew members & Vessel from Somali Pirates. Having thwarted the Piracy attempt on FV Iman, the warship has carried out another successful anti-piracy ops off the East Coast of Somalia, rescuing Fishing Vessel Al Naeemi and her Crew (19 Pakistani Nationals) from 11 Somali Pirates,” the Navy said in a post on X.

“INS Sumitra, post rescuing MV Iman, was again pressed into action to locate & intercept another Iranian flagged FV which had been boarded by pirates and her Crew taken hostage. Responding swiftly to the developing situation Sumitra intercepted the FV on PM 29 Jan 24 & through coercive posturing & effective deployment of her integral helo & boats compelled the safe release of the crew and the vessel,” it added.

“This rescue of hijacked Vessels, through swift, persistent and relentless efforts by Mission Deployed Indian Navy warship in the Southern Arabian Sea approx 850 nm West of Kochi, also prevents misuse of Fishing Vessels as Mother Ships for further acts of Piracy on Merchant Vessels,” the Navy added.

The fishing vessel had been boarded by pirates and the crew members were taken as hostages. The vessel was subsequently sanitised and released for onward transit.