Navy foils piracy bid

“The INS Godavari got a distress call at 5:30 pm (on Saturday) that a pirate’s skiff was approaching them. Immediately, a helicopter was launched,” said an Indian Navy official, adding that the helicopter fired warning shots at the skiff.

“A team was also sent on board the skiff alongwith all the materials, like ladders, used to board ships. The seven to eight pirates had thrown all their weapons in the sea and due to lack of any evidence to prosecute them, they were released,” the official said. This was the second successful anti-piracy operation by the INS Godavari that has been deputed in Somalia waters since mid-November.