UPDATED ON:
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
13:03 Mecca time, 10:03 GMT
News Africa
Indian navy destroys 'pirate ship'
 The INS Tabar was deployed to the Gulf of Aden to escort Indian ships [File: AFP]

An Indian warship in the Gulf of Aden has fought a battle with Somali pirates just hours after three vessels were hijacked off the coast of Somalia.

The Indian navy said the pirates' "mother ship" was blown up and the pirates fled in two speedboats in the exchange on Tuesday.

The navy said on Wednesday that the INS Tabar approached the pirate ship and asked to search it.

The ship had food, diesel and water on board and had two speedboats in tow.

The navy statement said that they had seen the men on the ship's deck with rocket-propelled grenade launchers and guns. The pirates threatened to blow up the warship, and then opened fire.

The naval statement said: "On repeated calls, the vessel's threatening response was that she would blow up the naval warship. The INS Tabar retaliated in self defence and opened fire on the mother vessel.
   
"As a result of the firing by INS Tabar, fire broke out on the [Somali] vessel and explosions were heard, possibly due to exploding ammunition that was stored on the vessel."

'Anti-piracy mission'

India deployed the INS Tabar to escort Indian ships after the country's shipping firms said they were losing $450,000 a month on cost overruns and delays in meeting deadlines.

This would be the third attack the INS Tabar has fended off since it began its anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden on Novermber 2.

Naval commandos flying in a helicopter foiled an attempt to hijack an Indian merchant ship on November 11.

The attack took place 285 nautical miles southwest off the Omani city of Salalah.

 Source: Agencies
 
Topics in this article
Feedback Number of comments : 23
 
Mohamed Adham
Sri Lanka
19/11/2008
While the Indian action is commendable. The core issues for this new phenomenon should be given thought. Why is this happening? We have had Somalis complaining about foreign vessels dumping toxic waste and fishing in their waters. Also the Americans have heavily interfered in Somalia with the help of Ethiopia and they even have their proxy set us as as government in Somalia. Solve the problem first, before firing and destroying people. The cowboy style has to be eradicated. It is dangerous.

Tom
Afghanistan
19/11/2008
Gooood SHOW!!!
Get them!!!! Way to go TABAR!

arup
India
19/11/2008
Indian navy destroys pirate ship
In the world stage, it is another good show by us. Inside or outside, we will destroy all the evil and save the good. And Mohamed Adham of Sri Lanka, we will save Srilankan ships too.

Spaise
United States
19/11/2008
Indians destroy pirates
i'm happy for the Somali's. this is more attention than they've probably ever received, sides maybe Black Hawk Down. nobody wants to help them, they might as well take it. their seas over fished, polluted, and their oil ripped from their lands they haven't gotten anything for it either, so i'm glad their taking it. i wish them luck.

Brad
Canada
19/11/2008
Way To go Pirates
The fact of the matter is these pirates are doing the right thing at the moment they have no choice but to take actions in to their own hands. Why condemn a country for defending their waters and their health. The WORLD has to stop exploiting Africans they are not second rate citizens to the planet earth. We all need to take “ETHICAL” responsibility for this because we all contribute to the waste being disposed of. World leaders are not “ETHICAL” they are obviously ignoring the real situation.

paul
United States
19/11/2008
but why?
there is enough "ready, fire, aim" going on in the world. let's first examine why this is happening. have the pirates been driven to this by others fouling & over-harvesting their native fishing grounds? if your livelihood were taken from you, might you not have done something similar? now that they have our attention let's solve this problem, not just punish them. frankly, i think they're pretty creative. that said, fun is over for them. time to sit down & talk it over, come up with solutions.

edward
United Kingdom
19/11/2008
Indian navy destroys pirate ship
Well done India, at last someone has the backbone to stand up to these thieving thugs who rob and plunder under the some what romantic name of ‘pirates’. dont stop there please carry on and rid the high seas of them.

Roshan
United Arab Emirates
20/11/2008
Indian navy destroy pirate ship
Great Job India. Secure the International water so that shipping companies and sailers is safe. I apprecate that indain navy did not kill any pirates..,

J
United Kingdom
20/11/2008
Congrats
First let me say congrat to the Indian Navy. Second this action is not new. NATO is there patrolling and preventing hijackings, but for those of you who have never been to sea you have to realize the vastness they have to patrol and most of the time the hijacking take place in just a few minutes. This makes it very difficult for ships to respond. Also the Tabar was fire upon which is why they returned fire. This action would be taken by any other naval war ship for any country

fekadu
Ethiopia
20/11/2008
indian navy,action is important
our world needs peace,nobody haven't right to disturb others privacy.so the indian navy action against somlia pirate ship is able to safe travel on the sea.and other country should take the same action over the pirates.

E.A. kumar
India
19/11/2008
Piracy along the Somalia coast
Iam glad that our Naval ship Tabar took the proper action against the Somali pirate vessel and I wish that other c countries also join to put an end to this menace

ap
India
19/11/2008
its about time we stood up to these maniacs at sea..who think they can hold the world at ransom ..where are usa and china now..only talk no deedsby these powers..indias shows the way.. ps..americans afraid of vietnamII somalia

Otis
United States
19/11/2008
Congrats India
Congrats India for taking action against the Somali based prirates. Too bad you did not shoot up their getaway boats too and kill them all. A dead pirate cannot hijack ships! Now if the gutless Saudi's and Iranians and other Gulf States would would work together to do the same, shipping would be able to freely pass through the straights and gulf of Aden once again.

Adrian Connor
Ireland
19/11/2008
Well done Indian Navy
It's Heartening to here of the Indian Navy defending the peace like this. In these uncertain economic times the last thing we need is disruption of our global trade routes on which we all depend. Maybe Navies should pool resources and implement a convoy escort system - just like they did in the North Atlantic in World War Two.

James Loyd
United States
19/11/2008
Finally some action
Its wonderful that a navy finnally sent a strong message. But, I want to see more action taken either covertly or by navies and nations.

sami
United States
19/11/2008
somali pirate
I will say this to the INDIAN navy, how about feeding the hungry and the poor in INDIA first. Let the pro take care of this. The midle east and africa don't need another invading country.

Robbie
United Kingdom
19/11/2008
Good job Indian Navy ! Maybe time for a G20 naval security force ??

Adam
United States
19/11/2008
Congrats
Congratulations to the INS Tabar for destroying the "Mother Ship". I think it was time for a strike against the piracy to show them their acts will not go unpunished. This does have reprocussions though. Strikes like these will drive the pirates to bigger weapons and more ruthless tactics. To really defend against the piracy an adequate Somali government has to be established.

paul
United States
19/11/2008
but why?
there is enough "ready, fire, aim" going on in the world. let's first examine why this is happening. have the pirates been driven to this by others fouling & over-harvesting their native fishing grounds? if your livelihood were taken from you, might you not have done something similar? now that they have our attention let's solve this problem, not just punish them. frankly, i think they're pretty creative. that said, fun is over for them. time to sit down & talk it over, come up with solutions.

James
United States
19/11/2008
Well done, India!
I, for one, would like to thank the Indians for their decisive action. Many here have criticized various parties and nations for inaction. I don't think this is productive - we should stop blaming each other and cooperate if we are to be effective in this fight. It really doesn't matter who is to blame It's everyone's problem now and throwing insults does no one any good. Instability in Somalia notwithstanding, hopefully the rest of us will follow India's example.

T.D.Foster
Great Britain (UK)
20/11/2008
Piracy off Somalia
As a former Master in the british Merchant Navy I can only applaud the action of the INS Tabar.The so-called "causes" listed by other correspondents do not gel with me.I have experienced similar situations in Indonesian waters long ago and I say that if you have not been in this confrontation then don't comment on it. Merchant ships must have the right to proceed on their voyages without let,hindrance or molestation by this ship-borne riff-raff. Where is the Royal Navy now?

Prasanna Kumar
India
20/11/2008
Well done Indian Navy
Well done Indian navy you had the guts to stops those thugs...well as for sami's comment you don't have to bother about feeding our poor, our country is doing its best.... good work Indian navy

KC
United States
20/11/2008
Indian Navy Destroys Pirate Ship
Good job Indian Navy. You have to have muscles to get your voice heard. As for the "sami" . Feeding the poor in India, I think India has gotten far enough in combating poverty.Given the fact its been just 50 odd years.I believe more could be done. But I believe there is still "hungry and needy " in US too.I can give you the list for salvation army and Soup Kitchens in US so . Poverty is going to be there always.Its just how much. And India will reduce it big time.

 
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