Will find merchant ship attackers even from the depth of seas: Defence Minister

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh vowed to find out and take action against those who attacked the merchant vessel MV Chem Pluto in the Arabian Sea when it was on its way to New Mangalore port.

Rajnath Singh said that he would find those who attacked the merchant ship “even from the depth of seas”.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the Indian Navy had increased surveillance in the sea.

“The government has taken the attacks at sea very seriously and has increased surveillance. We will find those who carried out this attack even from under the sea and take strict action against them,” the defence minister said.

The minister added that some nations are miffed with the development of India.

MV Chem Pluto, a cargo vessel carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia, was targeted in a drone attack allegedly by Houthi militants by a drone off India's west coast in the Arabian Sea when it was on its way to New Mangalore port.

The chemical tanker, under Liberian flag, owned by Japan, and operated by the Netherlands, was struck by the drone on December 23, about 200 nautical miles off the Indian coast. It was carrying crude oil from Al Jubail port in Saudi Arabia to New Mangalore port.

According to the Indian Navy, 20 Indian and Vietnamese crew were onboard the merchant ship. No one was injured in the attack.

The cargo ship reached Mumbai port on Monday under the protection of the Indian Coast Guard ship ICGS Vikram.