MOGADISHU, Somalia — Indian naval forces freed an Iranian fishing boat and its crew of 20 hijacked off Somalia after an operation lasting more than 48 hours, India's Defense Ministry said Tuesday.The rescue of the Azini was completed Monday in the Arabian Sea, more than 3,000 kilometers (1,865 miles) from Mumbai, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said.An official with the Puntland Maritime Police Force told The Associated Press that Indian forces disarmed 12 suspected Somali pirates, confiscated their mobile phones and released them.He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.The suspects and two Somali security guards later came ashore at Bandar Bayla in northeastern Somalia, the official said.
Three of those who came ashore had minor injuries, but he did not specify whether they were suspects or guards, or how they were hurt.India's ministry said the operation ended without casualties or injuries.It did not specify whether that account covered everyone aboard or only the rescued crew.
It was unclear whether the crew remained on the vessel or were moved elsewhere.The operation involved a warship, a maritime surveillance aircraft and marine commandos.An Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft airdropped additional commandos, the ministry said.The Azini was hijacked Oct.
29 between Bandar Bayla and Hafun.A Puntland maritime police officer said on Sunday that it carried 21 Iranian crew members and two Somali security guards.
The difference between that crew count and India's rescue figure could not immediately be explained.Indian forces tracked the vessel by sea and air before securing it, the ministry said.It said there had been concern that pirates could use the boat as a floating base for attacks on commercial ships.The Puntland official said regional authorities learned of the rescue only after it had taken place.The hijacking followed a resurgence of Somali piracy across the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean.
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