The 35 Somalian pirates who surrendered to the Indian Navy after it released the merchant vessel Ruen from their clutches are being brought back to India for prosecution.
The pirates had hijacked Maltese-flagged bulk carrier MV Ruen with the intention to use the vessel as a mothership to launch attacks on other commercial ships in the region. They also shot down a small spotter drone flown from destroyer INS Kolkata during the rescue operation.
These pirates will be prosecuted as per international law and guidelines. People familiar with the developments told media that the Indian Navy follows the usual practice of apprehending the pirates, disarming them and then allows them to leave after ensuring that they do not pose any threat to other vessels.
“In a reckless hostile act, the pirates shot down the ship-launched drone and fired at INS Kolkata. In a calibrated response as per international laws, INS Kolkata disabled the vessel’s steering system and navigational aids, forcing her to stop,” Indian Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said.
However, the people mentioned above highlighted that these pirates opened fire on the warship, thus, involved in an act of aggression against the Indian Navy, which is why they are being brought back to India.
They also said that there are concerns that if these pirates are allowed to leave then they might re-group and begin their attacks again.
The MV Ruen was hijacked on December 14, at least 260 nautical miles east of Somalia. INS Kolkata, the guided-missile destroyer, intercepted the merchant vessel on Saturday backed by patrol vessel INS Subhadra, P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft, high-altitude long-endurance drones and additional marine commandos air-dropped by the C-17 Globemaster-III aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Following a 40-hour long operation, around 2,600-km from the Indian coast, the Indian Navy coerced the pirates, all 35 of them, to surrender and secured the release of 17 crew members from Bulgaria, Angola and Myanmar without any injuries.
“INS Kolkata undertook precisely measured actions, while maintaining her position close to the vessel. She also engaged in forceful negotiations that led to the pirates’ surrender due to the sustained pressure,” Madhwal said.
