Dubai | An Indian sailor was among five crew members killed and another injured by pirates aboard a hijacked fuel tanker in Somalia, authorities said, as security forces of the African nation retook control of the vessel.
The High Commission of India in Kenya in a social media post on Wednesday said it is "deeply saddened by the tragic death" of the Indian crew member on board MT Honour, who "lost his life reportedly at the hands of pirates during the counter-piracy operation conducted by the Puntland Maritime Police Force".
Puntland is a semi-autonomous state of Somalia.
The mission, which manages diplomatic representation for Somalia through concurrent accreditation, said it is in touch with the family of the deceased Indian national and is extending all possible assistance, including arrangements for repatriation of his mortal remains.
"All other Indian seafarers on board are reportedly safe, including those on MT Sibu 1 and MT Eureka, which have also been recently rescued," it said.
There were 16 Indian seafarers aboard MT Sibu 1 and four aboard MT Eureka.
While the US-sanctioned Eritrea-flagged oil tanker Sibu 1 was freed by maritime police in Somalia's Puntland region last week after being held by pirates for over a month, Togo-flagged vessel MT Eureka was released on Tuesday.
The High Commission said it remained in close touch with the Somali authorities regarding the safety, well-being and repatriation of the Indian sailors.
"The welfare and safety of Indian seafarers is of utmost importance to the Government of India," it said.
The Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) said three Pakistanis, one Indian and one Myanmar national were killed early on Tuesday, before its forces launched an operation to secure the Palau-flagged tanker MT Honour 25, news portal Somalia Today reported.
Three Pakistani crew members and one Indian national were also wounded, it said.
PMPF blamed the deaths on the Somali pirates holding the vessel off the coast of Puntland but did not provide details on how or when the crew members were killed.
Though there was no official confirmation of the identity of the deceased Indian sailor, the Forward Seamen's Union of India (FSUI), which represents seafarers and works for their rights, indicated in a social media post that he could be Mohammed Tanweeruz Zaman, a cook aboard MT Honour 25.
According to the European Union's naval force EUNAVFOR, the vessel was hijacked in April while sailing towards the Somali capital, Mogadishu.
It was carrying about 17 crew members, most of them Pakistani nationals, and a cargo of oil products.
BBC Somali reported that the crew comprised 10 Pakistanis, four Indonesians, one Indian, one Sri Lankan and a Myanmar national.
The PMPF said in a social media post on Tuesday that it had "carried out a maritime operation off the coast of Dharin-baar, Bandar Beyla District, successfully rescuing the MT Honour 25 oil tanker, which had been hijacked by pirates".
The vessel is now safe and under Puntland government control, it said, adding that during the operation, 16 suspected pirates were apprehended, while operations to locate the remaining members continue.
Citing authorities, The Daily Somali news outlet said the pirates initially offered to surrender while concealing the crew's deaths.
The commercial vessel, carrying 18,500 barrels of fuel bound for Mogadishu, was hijacked by pirates on April 21, it said.
In another development, Somali pirates on Tuesday released a Togo-flagged tanker after holding it off Puntland’s Karkaar region, the report said.
Nearly 30 armed pirates disembarked, handing over all 12 crew members, comprising eight Egyptians and four Indians, unharmed to the local community, it said, adding that the pirates damaged the vessel, MT Eureka, and set parts of it ablaze before fleeing.
"Hijacked on May 2 off Yemen’s Port of Qana while carrying 20,400 barrels of fuel, the tanker had substantial amounts of its cargo siphoned and sold off at sea during its months in captivity. The crew members are now in the care of local residents in the Hul-Aanood area," the report said.
Mohamed Mubarak, chief of Puntland's security coordination office, said in a social media post that pirates were not holding any ships in waters off Puntland’s coast.
Honour 25 and Eureka have both been "freed of pirates", he said.
The MT Asana, which was hijacked in July, is held by pirates in the waters of the neighbouring Galmudug state, near the town of Ceel Huur, he said.
The developments come amid a resurgence of Somali piracy in 2026, driven by regional conflicts, international naval diversions toward the Red Sea due to geopolitical instability, and worsening economic desperation in Somalia.
In August, Somali pirates hijacked Cameroon-flagged MV Lutuf off the Puntland coast. The vessel has 10 crew members, including six Indians.
