Rajnath Singh On Ship Attackers: “Will Find Them Even From Depth Of Seas”

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday that India would find the perpetrators of the recent assaults on Merchant Navy ships, “even from the depths of the sea,” and take severe action against them.

Mr. Singh made his remarks soon after the Navy verified that a drone had attacked the Merchant Vessel, or MV, Chem Pluto, two days before. The incident, which happened some 400 kilometers off the west coast of India, was one of several drone and missile attacks carried out by Houthi rebels in Yemen, who are supported by Iran and have been aiming their weapons at the crucial Red Sea trade channel ever since the Israel-Hamas conflict began on October 7.

The ship arrived in Mumbai this morning with its 21 crew members, one of whom is Vietnamese, and the Navy’s explosive ordnance squad inspected it. Pictures seemed to reveal damage to the stern (back) from what appeared to be an airborne strike, but further forensic work is needed to confirm the specifics.

Three warships, the Mormugao, Kochi, and Kolkata, have been stationed in the area to provide a deterrent presence in case these and other assaults on commercial boats in the area occur.