New Delhi: India’s navy said on Friday that its warship was moving toward a Liberian-flagged vessel hijacked in the Arabian Sea, which is believed to have Indian crew members on board.
The MV Lila Norfolk was hijacked in the waters off Somalia’s coast.
The Indian Navy said in a statement that it received information about it on Thursday evening, after the vessel posted a message on the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations portal, saying five to six unknown armed people had boarded it.
“Responding swiftly to the developing situation, Indian Navy launched a Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) and has diverted INS Chennai deployed for Maritime Security Operations to assist the vessel,” the navy said.
Indian media reported on Friday that at least 15 Indian crew members were believed to be on board the MV Lila Norfolk.
The navy said that they were safe and it was monitoring the situation.
“The aircraft overflew the vessel on early morning of 05 Jan 24 and established contact with the vessel, ascertaining the safety of the crew,” it said.
“Naval aircraft continues to monitor movement and INS Chennai is closing the vessel to render assistance.”
India has been lately beefing up its military presence in the Arabian Sea following an increase in attacks in the region.
In late December, it sent three warships to the Arabian Sea after a merchant vessel linked to Israel was hit by a drone off its western coast.
Most of India’s exports and imports are by sea, with a major part of the imports being crude oil and LNG.
Ranjit Kumar, a defense analyst based in Delhi, said it was estimated that 90 percent of India’s trade by volume was maritime trade and the country could not afford to let it be affected.
“Trade through high seas is the lifeline of the Indian economy. The Indian Navy cannot allow any state or non-state actor to disrupt Indian maritime trade. The Indian Navy cannot be a mute spectator,” he told Arab News.
“Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh had given a strong warning that attackers would be searched and punished even in the extreme depth of the sea. The Indian Navy has been tasked to deal sternly with these forces.”
