NEW DELHI: The Indian Navy warship INS Kolkata responded to inputs of suspected pirate activity near merchant vessel MV Mashallah 1 in the Western Indian Ocean, helping prevent a possible piracy attack, as news agency ANI reported on Wednesday.The warship, deployed near the Gulf of Aden, launched an immediate operation after receiving inputs about suspicious movements around the vessel. INS Kolkata used its onboard helicopter for aerial surveillance and also carried out boarding operations to investigate the threat.The Navy said the timely action ensured the safety of the merchant ship and its crew.The Navy has maintained continuous anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since 2008 to protect commercial shipping routes in the region.Meanwhile, the Navy’s prompt response to the suspected piracy threat came amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following the America-Iran war that began on February 28.