6 Indians Among Crew of Cargo Ship Hijacked off Somalia Carrying Turkish Arms
· World · Times of India, NDTV, LiveMint
Six Indian nationals were among the 10-member crew of the M/V LUTUF, a Cameroon-flagged cargo ship hijacked by pirates off Somalia's Puntland coast earlier this week, according to an AP report citing a Somali official. The vessel was seized on Monday about 3.5 nautical miles off Marraya in Puntland's Eyl district and later taken towards the Nugaal coast. The ship, owned by Polar Movement Shipping, was carrying Turkish weapons bound for a military training facility in Mogadishu along with communications and satellite equipment. The crew comprised six Indian nationals, one Turkish national, one Georgian, and two Serbian security guards. Eight pirates, allegedly linked to those who hijacked the M/V Sward on April 26, seized the vessel. Turkish helicopters and drones monitored the area, and an airstrike followed after a boat delivered khat to the vessel, killing four men and injuring two others, though the circumstances could not be independently verified.
Why it matters
The hijacking endangers the lives of six Indian seamen and raises concerns over the safety of Indian crew members working on international waters. It also highlights growing security risks in the Gulf of Aden, which could affect India's maritime trade and naval operations in the region.
Read the original report — Times of India
Join us on Telegram
Breaking news the moment it lands. At 10,000 members we ship the Android app.