<p>India vowed on Tuesday (Dec 26) to find out who was behind the drone attack on merchant navy ships of its coast even if it makes it search "depths of seas". Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the government has taken the drone attack very seriously. He was speaking in Mumbai during the commission ceremony of an Indian Navy warship.</p>

<p>“The Indian government has taken the drone attack on MV Chem Pluto and attack on MV Saibaba in the Red Sea seriously. We will find those who executed the recent attacks on merchant navy ships even from the depths of the seas and take strict action against them,” Singh said.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | US alleges Iran behind attack drone attack on MV Chem Pluto in Arabian Sea</strong></p>

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<p>The defence minister said that India had stepped up patrolling of the seas following the attack. The Indian Navy is a regional power in the Indian Ocean region and has been involved in various operations providing security to trade convoys passing through the waterways in this part of the world.</p>

<p>"India plays the role of a net security provider in the entire Indian Ocean region. We will ensure that maritime trade in this region rises from the sea to the heights of the sky," Rajnath Singh said at the commissioning ceremony of another guided missile destroyer ship in Mumbai.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Big Breaking: India's Defence minister Rajnath Singh <a href="https://twitter.com/DefenceMinIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DefenceMinIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/rajnathsingh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rajnathsingh</a> reacts to MV Chem Pluto attack. Says, "Whosoever masterminded the attack, we will find them from the bottom of the sea". <a href="https://t.co/jjwKPxYURa">pic.twitter.com/jjwKPxYURa</a></p>
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1739569314381103401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>The attack</strong></h2>

<p>On Saturday, cargo ship MV Chem Pluto was struck by a drone when it was about 217 nautical miles from the Indian port of Porbandar. The ship has 21 Indian crew members on board. Following the attack, the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Gurad have deployed number of assets to help the ship as well as to strengthen security of Indian waters.</p>

<p>MV Saibaba, a separate Gabon-flagged commercial oil tanker came under drone attack in southern Red Sea. It had 25 Indian crew members.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-navy-issues-2nd-statement-on-mv-chem-pluto-vessel-incident-says-debris-points-to-drone-attack-673467">MV Chem Pluto: Indian Navy deploys three warships in Arabian Sea to counter attacks, launches probe</a></strong></p>

<p>Defence Minister Singh was in Mumbai for commissioning of INS Imphal, a Project 15B stealth-guided missile destroyer. The minister hailed the warship as an example of 'atmanirbharta' (self-sufficiency).</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-diplomacy-in-2023-g20s-impact-africas-ascent-and-being-first-responder-673442">Indian diplomacy in 2023: G20 impact, Africa's ascent and being first responder</a></strong></p>

<p>Indian Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar has said that the navy has deployed four destroyers to counter piracy and deter attacks on merchant ships.</p>

<p>The Admiral said that P-8I aircrafts, Dorniers, Sea Guardians, helicopters in addition to Indian Coast Guard ships were deployed after the drone attack.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


India vowed on Tuesday (Dec 26) to find out who was behind the drone attack on merchant navy ships of its coast even if it makes it search "depths of seas". Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the government has taken the drone attack very seriously.

India vowed on Tuesday (Dec 26) to find out who was behind the drone attack on merchant navy ships of its coast even if it makes it search "depths of seas". Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the government has taken the drone attack very seriously. He was speaking in Mumbai during the commission ceremony of an Indian Navy warship. “The Indian government has taken the drone attack on MV Chem Pluto and attack on MV Saibaba in the Red Sea seriously. We will find those who executed the recent attacks on merchant navy ships even from the depths of the seas and take strict action against them,” Singh said. Watch | US alleges Iran behind attack drone attack on MV Chem Pluto in Arabian Sea × The defence minister said that India had stepped up patrolling of the seas following the attack. The Indian Navy is a regional power in the Indian Ocean region and has been involved in various operations providing security to trade convoys passing through the waterways in this part of the world. "India plays the role of a net security provider in the entire Indian Ocean region. We will ensure that maritime trade in this region rises from the sea to the heights of the sky," Rajnath Singh said at the commissioning ceremony of another guided missile destroyer ship in Mumbai. Big Breaking: India's Defence minister Rajnath Singh @DefenceMinIndia @rajnathsingh reacts to MV Chem Pluto attack. Says, "Whosoever masterminded the attack, we will find them from the bottom of the sea". pic.twitter.com/jjwKPxYURa — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) December 26, 2023 × The attack On Saturday, cargo ship MV Chem Pluto was struck by a drone when it was about 217 nautical miles from the Indian port of Porbandar. The ship has 21 Indian crew members on board. Following the attack, the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Gurad have deployed number of assets to help the ship as well as to strengthen security of Indian waters. MV Saibaba, a separate Gabon-flagged commercial oil tanker came under drone attack in southern Red Sea. It had 25 Indian crew members. Also Read | MV Chem Pluto: Indian Navy deploys three warships in Arabian Sea to counter attacks, launches probe Defence Minister Singh was in Mumbai for commissioning of INS Imphal, a Project 15B stealth-guided missile destroyer. The minister hailed the warship as an example of 'atmanirbharta' (self-sufficiency). Also Read | Indian diplomacy in 2023: G20 impact, Africa's ascent and being first responder Indian Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar has said that the navy has deployed four destroyers to counter piracy and deter attacks on merchant ships. The Admiral said that P-8I aircrafts, Dorniers, Sea Guardians, helicopters in addition to Indian Coast Guard ships were deployed after the drone attack. (With inputs from agencies)

India vows to find out culprit behind drone attack on merchant ships off its coast, take strict action

An unclaimed missile strike has resulted in a fire on board a merchant ship named MV Chem Pluto that reportedly was headed towards Israel in The Indian Ocean. The vessel is Affiliated with Israel and the Indian Coast Guard has been dispatched with a warship for immediate assistance to all people on board.

Drone attack in Indian Ocean: Indian Coast Guard deploys ship for help

<p>&nbsp;An Indian&nbsp;merchant shipping crew onboard MV Tampen vessel was attacked by pirates off a port in Africa’s western coast in which two members suffered injuries while a third one has been kidnapped, family members of the distressed crew members have claimed.</p>

<p>The vessel, which was headed from Cameroon to Dubai, had to drop the anchor in the port limits of Owendo Anchorage, Gabon, owing to an issue with the propulsion system.</p>

<p>It is learnt that in the early hours of Sunday (around 12.30 am), some pirates boarded the vessel and attacked the Indian crew members.&nbsp;During the confrontation, the ship’s chief officer and cook suffered multiple bullet wounds after the pirates fired at them using AK-47, the family members claimed.</p>

<p>However, there is no information regarding the whereabouts of a second engineer, who is said to have been kidnapped by the pirates. It is said that the two injured crew have been taken to a hospital in Gabon for treatment and surgery.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The families of the crew alleged that the persons on board are uncertain about their safety and security as the shipping company (Proactive Ship Management Pvt Ltd) is not keen on ensuring the safety of the crew members.</p>

<p>When contacted, a representative of the shipping company told Zee News, “Our priority is to look after the crew.”</p>

<p>The representative also said that a statement would be issued later.&nbsp;</p>

<p>(This is a developing story and will be updated)</p>


An Indian merchant shipping crew onboard MV Tampen vessel was attacked by pirates off a port in Africa’s western coast in which two members suffered injuries while a third one has been kidnapped, family members of the distressed crew members have claimed.

An Indian merchant shipping crew onboard MV Tampen vessel was attacked by pirates off a port in Africa’s western coast in which two members suffered injuries while a third one has been kidnapped, family members of the distressed crew members have claimed. The vessel, which was headed from Cameroon to Dubai, had to drop the anchor in the port limits of Owendo Anchorage, Gabon, owing to an issue with the propulsion system. It is learnt that in the early hours of Sunday (around 12.30 am), some pirates boarded the vessel and attacked the Indian crew members. During the confrontation, the ship’s chief officer and cook suffered multiple bullet wounds after the pirates fired at them using AK-47, the family members claimed. However, there is no information regarding the whereabouts of a second engineer, who is said to have been kidnapped by the pirates. It is said that the two injured crew have been taken to a hospital in Gabon for treatment and surgery. The families of the crew alleged that the persons on board are uncertain about their safety and security as the shipping company (Proactive Ship Management Pvt Ltd) is not keen on ensuring the safety of the crew members. When contacted, a representative of the shipping company told Zee News, “Our priority is to look after the crew.” The representative also said that a statement would be issued later. (This is a developing story and will be updated)

Pirates attack Indian merchant ship off African coast, 2 injured, 1 kidnapped

<p>&nbsp;An Indian&nbsp;merchant shipping crew onboard MV Tampen vessel was attacked by pirates off a port in Africa’s western coast in which two members suffered injuries while a third one has been kidnapped, family members of the distressed crew members have claimed.</p>

<p>The vessel, which was headed from Cameroon to Dubai, had to drop the anchor in the port limits of Owendo Anchorage, Gabon, owing to an issue with the propulsion system.</p>

<p>It is learnt that in the early hours of Sunday (around 12.30 am), some pirates boarded the vessel and attacked the Indian crew members.&nbsp;During the confrontation, the ship’s chief officer and cook suffered multiple bullet wounds after the pirates fired using AK-47, the family members claimed.</p>

<p>However, there is no information regarding the whereabouts of a second engineer, who is said to have been kidnapped by the pirates. It is said that the two injured crew have been taken to a hospital in Gabon for treatment and surgery.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The families of the crew alleged that the persons on board are uncertain about their safety and security as the shipping company (Proactive Ship Management Pvt Ltd) is not keen on ensuring the safety of the crew members.</p>

<p>When contacted, a representative of the shipping company told Zee News, “Our priority is to look after the crew.”</p>

<p>The representative also said that a statement would be issued later.&nbsp;</p>

<p>(This is a developing story and will be updated)</p>


An Indian merchant shipping crew onboard MV Tampen vessel was attacked by pirates off a port in Africa’s western coast in which two members suffered injuries while a third one has been kidnapped, family members of the distressed crew members have claimed. The vessel, which was headed from Cameroon to Dubai, had to drop the anchor in the port limits of Owendo Anchorage, Gabon, owing to an issue with the propulsion system. It is learnt that in the early hours of Sunday (around 12.30 am), some pirates boarded the vessel and attacked the Indian crew members. During the confrontation, the ship’s chief officer and cook suffered multiple bullet wounds after the pirates fired using AK-47, the family members claimed. However, there is no information regarding the whereabouts of a second engineer, who is said to have been kidnapped by the pirates. It is said that the two injured crew have been taken to a hospital in Gabon for treatment and surgery. The families of the crew alleged that the persons on board are uncertain about their safety and security as the shipping company (Proactive Ship Management Pvt Ltd) is not keen on ensuring the safety of the crew members. When contacted, a representative of the shipping company told Zee News, “Our priority is to look after the crew.” The representative also said that a statement would be issued later. (This is a developing story and will be updated)

Pirates attack Indian merchant ship off African coast, 2 suffer bullet injuries, 1 kidnapped

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