Indian Navy frees hijacked fishing vessel ‘Ajini’ from pirates near Somalia's coast

Indian Navy frees fishing vessel ‘Ajini’ from Somali pirates

Indian Navy has freed the Indian fishing vessel ‘Ajini’, which was actively operating in an international maritime route off the coast of Somalia, from the clutches of pirates. After several hijackings by pirate groups in the area over the past few weeks, the Indian Navy intensified its anti‑piracy mission. ‘Ajini’ had been seized by a pirate group about 2 weeks ago; the vessel was carrying 12 Indian fishermen and 2 foreign crew members. A fast‑moving Indian frigate received the signal and immediately entered the area, surrounding the two main pirate vessels. Following a precise and restrained range‑deal operation, the pirates lowered their weapons and were ordered to vacate the ‘Ajini’.

After the operation, a spokesperson for the Indian Navy said that this success demonstrates India’s commitment to international maritime security. He also noted that the Indian Navy has been providing continuous surveillance and response against piracy under ‘Operation Samudrik Shanti’ in the area for several years. Information sharing and cooperation between Indian and international maritime security agencies also played a key role in this mission. The captain of ‘Ajini’ reported that the vessel sustained minimal damage and all passengers are in good health.

This incident again underscored how multinational cooperation and rapid response capabilities are crucial for safeguarding maritime trade and the fishing industry against piracy. The Indian Navy pledged to maintain vigilance and strengthen compliance with international maritime law to prevent such threats in the future.