The Maltese-flagged bulk cargo vessel was intercepted by a navy warship on Friday and action was being taken in accordance with international law, the report said, adding that the ship reportedly opened fire on the Indian warship.

Somali pirates who seized the Ruen in December may have used it in the takeover of a Bangladesh-flagged cargo ship off the coast of Somalia this week, the European Union naval force said on Thursday.

(Reporting by Harshita Meenaktshi in Bengaluru; Editing by William Mallard)