Will find MV Chem Pluto attackers even from the depths of seas: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

India has vowed to track down, “even from the depths of the seas,” those who attacked the Merchant Navy vessel MV Chem Pluto in the Red Sea, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh assuring strict action against those behind the attacks.

The reaction by the Defence Minister came shortly after the Indian Navy confirmed that MV Chem Pluto was struck by a drone two days ago.

In his address at the event of commissioning of stealth guided missile destroyer INS Imphal in Mumbai, Singh said India has intensified patrolling of the seas after the recent attacks on merchant navy ships.

“The Indian government has taken the drone attack on MV Chem Pluto and attack on MV Sai Baba 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,” the minister said.

भारतीय नौसेना ने समंदर की निगरानी बढ़ा दी है।जिन्होंने भी इस हमले को अंजाम दिया है, उन्हें हम सागरतल से भी ढूँढ निकालेंगे और उनके ख़िलाफ़ कठोर कारवाई की जायेगी: रक्षा मंत्री श्री @rajnathsingh

— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) December 26, 2023

On Saturday, MV Chem Pluto with 21 Indian crew members, was struck by a drone about 217 nautical miles from Porbandar following which both the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard deployed a number of assets to provide assistance to the ship.

The attack was one of several drone and missile strikes by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have been targeting the crucial Red Sea shipping lane since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war on 7 October.

A Gabon-flagged commercial crude oil tanker with 25 Indian crew members reportedly came under a drone attack in the Southern Red Sea. Indian officials later clarified that the commercial oil tanker was not an Indian-flagged vessel.

Meanwhile, Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said four destroyers have been deployed to counter piracy and drone attacks on merchant ships.

Kumar further said P-8I aircraft, Dorniers, Sea Guardians, helicopters and Coast Guard ships - all have been deployed jointly to counter the threats of piracy and drone attacks.

Houthis have been carrying out a slew of drone and missile attacks in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where Israeli forces have been fighting the Hamas terrorists.

With inputs from agencies