Subhechcha Ganguly 
Information concerning the hijacking of the ship MV Lila Norfolk along the coast of Somalia was reported to the Indian Navy on Thursday evening.According to military officials on Friday, the Indian Navy is keeping a careful eye on the circumstances surrounding the hijacking of a merchant ship that was reported last evening close to Somalia’s coast. According to officials cited by ANI, there are reportedly fifteen Indian crew men aboard the Liberian-flagged ship “MV Lila Norfolk.”Officials said that aircraft from the Indian Navy have been sent in to monitor the movements of the stolen ship. The crew and I have successfully established communication, which is an essential link to evaluate the condition on board.
According to an announcement from the Indian Navy, “the ship had sent a message on the UKMTO (United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations) portal, indicating boarding by approximately five to six unknown armed personnel on the evening of January 4, 2024.”The Indian navy further stated that the destroyer INS Chennai is approaching the stolen ship in order to address the problem.”In order to provide aid, INS Chennai is closing the vessel as naval aircraft continue to monitor activity. The statement stated, “In coordination with other agencies/MNF in the area, the overall situation is being closely monitored.”Days before the hijacking incident, a commerce vessel flying the Maltese flag was taken by unidentified assailants in the Arabian Sea, bringing piracy back into the public eye. The ship had reported that six ‘pirates’ had boarded it without authorization.
One of the eighteen crew members, a Bulgarian national, was hurt by the pirates and needed medical attention, thus the Indian Navy removed him from the captured cargo vessel. The infield ship INS Kochi evacuated the sailor.
