An Indian national and four other crew members were killed in a gunfight between Somali pirates and security forces during an operation to retake a hijacked tanker, according to a report submitted to the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) on Wednesday.

The Indian national, Mohammed Tanweeruz Zaman, worked as a cook aboard the MT Honour 25. Somali pirates hijacked the tanker on April 24. Zaman was a resident of West Bengal and had been hired by World Maritime Energy Private Limited, a company based in Punjab.

Zaman’s relatives had earlier informed the DGMA about the hijacking of the vessel. The agency was later told that Zaman died during an exchange of fire as Somali security forces moved to regain control of the tanker from the pirates.

Four other crew members also died in the clash. They included three Pakistani nationals and one Myanmar national. The remaining crew members are safe, while the tanker is now moving towards the port of Bosaso under Somali security forces’ escort.

Per the directorate report, the MT Honour 25 was carrying bitumen and sailed under the flag of Palau. The vessel had 17 crew members from five countries at the time of the hijacking.

The crew included one Indian national, 10 Pakistanis, four Indonesians, one Myanmar national and one Sri Lankan. Zaman was the only Indian member of the crew.

The hijacking triggered efforts to secure the vessel and its crew. Somali security forces eventually engaged the pirates in a firefight to retake the tanker. Zaman and the four other crew members were killed during the exchange.

Security forces have taken over the tanker, and it is heading towards Bosaso. Several families are awaiting further information about their relatives who were aboard the ship.

The DGMA was informed of the deaths on Wednesday. The agency had earlier received information from Zaman’s relatives about his presence aboard the hijacked tanker and his employment with the Punjab-based maritime company.