Soon after being deployed off the coast of Seychelles to carry out anti piracy operations, Indian Naval Ship Nirdeshak nabbed nine sea-pirates with the help of the Spanish and French navies.

"INS Nirdeshak--a survey ship of the Indian Navy, has arrested nine sea pirates 240 nautical miles off the coast of Seychelles with the help of French and Spanish navies there between the night of April 26-27," Navy officials said Delhi [Images].

The pirates, officials said, were caught with three scuffs and were handed over to the Seychelles authorities by the Navy. Spanish Navy's destroyer 'Nomansia' and the French Navy's Falcon maritime search and reconnaissance aircraft participated in the mission to nab the pirates who were operating in the island nation's Exclusive Economic Zone, officials said.

INS Nirdeshak was deployed by the Navy for anti- piracy missions after the Seychelles government asked for Indian help to counter the sea pirates who had started operating in their waters after international navies increased patrolling in the Gulf of Aden. INS Nirdeshak was already based in Seychelles carrying out survey missions there and is equipped with helicopters and other basic equipment and weaponry required to carry out operations against pirates.