NEW DELHI: The Indian Navy has launched a focused search of suspected ships to trace the pirates who tried to hijack a Liberian cargo ship off the coast of Somalia. On Friday, the Indian Navy rescued the ship 'MV Lila Norfolk' with 21 crew including 15 Indians from pirates. The ship's crew began work to restore the ship's propulsion system, power supply and steering gear. Once this is completed, MV Lila Norfolk will resume its journey to its destination, escorted by an Indian Navy warship.

On Thursday evening, six pirates with weapons boarded the ship travelling from Brazil to Bahrain. On receiving the distress message, the Indian Navy immediately deployed the warship INS Chennai along with surveillance aircraft, helicopters and armed Predator drones for the rescue mission. INS Chennai intercepted the ship. The pirates were given an ultimatum from Navy helicopters to leave the ship. By the time the navy's marine commandos (Marcos) entered the ship, the pirates had fled in fear. In addition to INS Chennai, India has deployed INS Kochi, INS Kolkata and INS Murgaon destroyer warships and missile boats in the Arabian Sea to ensure maritime security.

Bharat Mata Ki Jai

The crew of MV Lila Norfolk thanked the Indian Navy. The first footage of the Indian crew is out. The video shows employees thanking and chanting 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'.