New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh asserted on Tuesday that India will relentlessly pursue those responsible for attacks on Merchant Navy vessels, vowing to take action against them “even from the depths of the sea.” Speaking at the commissioning of INS Imphal, the third ‘Visakhapatnam-class’ warship, Singh addressed the recent drone attacks on MV Chem Pluto in the Arabian Sea and MV Sai Baba in the Red Sea, emphasizing the government’s grave concern.
Expressing the government’s commitment to addressing the security threats, he stated, “The government has taken the drone attack on MV Chem Pluto in the Arabian Sea, and on MV Sai Baba in the Red Sea, very seriously.” Singh assured that the Navy has escalated surveillance efforts, and those responsible for the attacks will be pursued even if hiding beneath the seabed. He affirmed that justice will be served against the perpetrators.
Highlighting India’s role as the “net security provider for the entire Indian Ocean region,” Singh emphasized collaboration with friendly nations to ensure the safety of maritime trade. The comments followed the confirmation of a drone attack on MV Chem Pluto by the Indian Navy.
A Pentagon spokesperson disclosed on Sunday that the attack, which occurred 400 km off India’s west coast, was executed by “a one-way attack drone fired from Iran.” The assault was part of a series carried out by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen targeting the crucial Red Sea shipping lane during the Israel-Gaza conflict.
MV Chem Pluto, a Liberia-flagged oil tanker en route from Saudi Arabia to Mangaluru in Karnataka, fell victim to the drone strike, resulting in an onboard fire. The incident underscores the complex maritime security challenges in the region, prompting India to take decisive actions to safeguard its interests and maintain stability in the Indian Ocean.
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