The Navy successfully prevented a piracy attack on an Indian merchant vessel in the Arabian Sea, a release issued by the Defence Wing of the Press Information Bureau stated on Wednesday.
On October 18, a boat was trying to approach MV Desh Rakshak, an oil tanker owned by the Shipping Corporation of India. Official sources said the ship was moving in the Gulf of Aden.
The Navy warned the boat to halt and ordered the crew members to gather on the upper deck. A Boarding Party was then despatched from INS Sukanya, which conducted searches on the boat. The Navy recovered three rifles, eight magazines and about 320 rounds of ammunition.
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“In addition, ladders and grapnels normally used by the pirates to board merchant vessels were also found, clearly indicating piratical intent. The boat was also carrying a large quantity of fuel and LPG cylinders,” it said.
The arms and ammunition were seized and piracy-related equipment thrown overboard.