6 Indians Onboard Hijacked Cargo Ship Carrying Turkish Weapons Near Somalia

New Delhi, August 21, 2026:At least six Indians are among a 10-member crew aboard the Cameroon-flagged cargo vessel LUTUF, which was reportedly hijacked by pirates off Somalia's Puntland coast earlier this week.

Cargo Vessel Seized Near Puntland Coast

The vessel was seized on Monday, about three and a half nautical miles off Marraya in Puntland's Eyl district, according to an Associated Press report citing a Somali official who was not authorised to speak publicly about the matter.

The reported hijacking has raised concerns over the safety of the crew, particularly the six Indian sailors whose whereabouts and condition have not been independently confirmed.

Weapons and Equipment on Board

According to the Somali official cited in the report, the vessel was carrying Turkish weapons destined for a Turkish military training facility in Mogadishu. It was also reportedly transporting communications and satellite equipment.

The ship is owned by Polar Movement Shipping. Besides the six Indian crew members, those aboard reportedly included one Turkish national, one Georgian national and two Serbian security guards.

Eight pirates are believed to have seized the vessel and subsequently moved it towards the coast near Garmaal in Puntland's Dangoroyo district. The group is reportedly linked to pirates previously involved in the hijacking of another merchant vessel, Sward, on 26 April.

The nature and quantity of the weapons and other equipment aboard the vessel have not been independently established.

Turkish Surveillance After Hijacking

Following the seizure, two Turkish-owned vessels reportedly approached the hijacked ship, while Turkish helicopters and drones monitored the area.

On Tuesday, a small boat carrying two men reportedly approached the vessel and delivered khat, a stimulant commonly chewed in Somalia. After the boat returned towards the shore, an airstrike reportedly took place, killing four men and injuring two others.

However, several details surrounding the incident remain unclear. It has not been independently verified who carried out the airstrike or whether those killed were involved in the hijacking.

Fate of Crew Remains Unclear

The current status of the LUTUF, its crew and its cargo has not been confirmed. Neither Indian nor Turkish authorities had issued a public statement on the reported incident at the time of the report.

The safety of the six Indian sailors is likely to be a key concern as authorities assess the situation and attempt to establish what happened aboard the vessel.

The incident also highlights the continuing risks faced by merchant crews operating near the Somali coast, where piracy has previously posed a serious threat to international shipping.

For now, uncertainty surrounds the fate of the vessel and its crew, with further information from Indian, Turkish or Somali authorities expected to clarify the situation.

Courtesy : NDTV