<p>The offshore patrol vessel INS Sukanya, currently deployed in the Gulf of Aden, prevented the daring attempts by its prompt action. Marine commandoes boarded the pirate boats, unarmed them, seized the arms and ammunition and left the pirates in the high seas as per international norms.<br /><br />INS Sukanya is the first OPV to be deployed there as till now only destroyers and frigates have been put into operation there.<br />With the monsoon receding and sea becoming clam, piracy incidents had begun to rise, said a Navy official.<br /><br />The most daring attempt in the last week was made by two pirate skiffs that approached the merchant vessels in the wee hours of Monday. Noticing the two high speed pirate boats, Indian Navy officials asked the pirates to maintain a safe distance and sounded an alarm.</p>.<p>When the pirates refused to listen to the radio warnings, Sukanya launched its own investigation and sent marine commandos in high speed boats towards them. It also launched its helicopter to monitor the proceedings on the sea.</p>.<p>“The action took place in darkness but the commandos successfully neutralised the pirates and seized the arms and ammunition including communication equipment. Pirates were also carrying ropes and ladder to board the merchant vessels,” the officials said.</p>.<p>Nine pirates were apprehended and disarmed by the commandos, who released the pirates after neutralising them as per the standard operating procedure.</p>.<p>International effort<br /></p>.<p>Since 2008, as many as 26 Indian naval ships were deployed in the piracy-infested Gulf of Aden as a part of an international effort to give protection to merchant ships passing through the economically important corridors.<br /><br />In the last three years, Indian battleships have provided safe passage to 1700 merchant ships of various flags and prevented 39 piracy attempts.</p>.<p>Incidentally, Defence Minister A K Antony on Monday told the Parliamentary Consultative Committee that India did not follow a policy of hot pursuit against Somalian pirates.<br />Pointing out that twenty navies of the world were operating in the Gulf of Aden and India was also cooperating with them, the minister emphasised that a joint effort under the aegis of the United Nations might yield better results.</p>
<p>The offshore patrol vessel INS Sukanya, currently deployed in the Gulf of Aden, prevented the daring attempts by its prompt action. Marine commandoes boarded the pirate boats, unarmed them, seized the arms and ammunition and left the pirates in the high seas as per international norms.<br /><br />INS Sukanya is the first OPV to be deployed there as till now only destroyers and frigates have been put into operation there.<br />With the monsoon receding and sea becoming clam, piracy incidents had begun to rise, said a Navy official.<br /><br />The most daring attempt in the last week was made by two pirate skiffs that approached the merchant vessels in the wee hours of Monday. Noticing the two high speed pirate boats, Indian Navy officials asked the pirates to maintain a safe distance and sounded an alarm.</p>.<p>When the pirates refused to listen to the radio warnings, Sukanya launched its own investigation and sent marine commandos in high speed boats towards them. It also launched its helicopter to monitor the proceedings on the sea.</p>.<p>“The action took place in darkness but the commandos successfully neutralised the pirates and seized the arms and ammunition including communication equipment. Pirates were also carrying ropes and ladder to board the merchant vessels,” the officials said.</p>.<p>Nine pirates were apprehended and disarmed by the commandos, who released the pirates after neutralising them as per the standard operating procedure.</p>.<p>International effort<br /></p>.<p>Since 2008, as many as 26 Indian naval ships were deployed in the piracy-infested Gulf of Aden as a part of an international effort to give protection to merchant ships passing through the economically important corridors.<br /><br />In the last three years, Indian battleships have provided safe passage to 1700 merchant ships of various flags and prevented 39 piracy attempts.</p>.<p>Incidentally, Defence Minister A K Antony on Monday told the Parliamentary Consultative Committee that India did not follow a policy of hot pursuit against Somalian pirates.<br />Pointing out that twenty navies of the world were operating in the Gulf of Aden and India was also cooperating with them, the minister emphasised that a joint effort under the aegis of the United Nations might yield better results.</p>
