New Delhi, May 14: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday strongly condemned the attack on an Indian-flagged cargo vessel off the coast of Oman, describing the incident as “unacceptable” and expressing concern over continued attacks on commercial shipping and civilian mariners in the region.

According to reports, the Gujarat-owned cargo ship MSV Haji Ali sank after it was struck by what preliminary reports described as a drone or missile-like projectile on May 13 while sailing through Omani waters.

The vessel was travelling from Berbera Port in Somalia to Sharjah when the incident occurred.

In an official statement, the MEA said, “The attack on an Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman yesterday is unacceptable, and we deplore the fact that commercial shipping and civilian mariners continue to be targeted.”

The Ministry also confirmed that all Indian crew members onboard the vessel were safe and thanked the Omani authorities for carrying out the rescue operation promptly.

“India reiterates that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members, or otherwise impeding freedom of navigation and commerce, should be avoided,” the statement added.

Teams from the Oman Coast Guard launched a swift rescue operation and safely evacuated all 14 crew members despite the ship catching fire after the strike, according to several local media outlets.

The vessel reportedly became stranded off the Omani coast at around 3:30 a.m. (local time), according to the ship’s owner, Sultan Ahmed Ansar, who is a resident of Dwarka in Gujarat.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the region and renewed concerns over the safety of international maritime routes and commercial vessels operating in West Asian waters.

The crisis in West Asia erupted following the US-Israel joint strikes against Iran on February 28. Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei was killed during these strikes.

Tehran retaliated with a series of attacks against Israel and US military bases in the Gulf nations. This triggered a wider crisis in the Gulf region as Iran announced blocking the Strait of Hormuz.

New Delhi, May 14: A Delhi court is scheduled to hear on June 4 the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) voluminous chargesheet filed in connection with the deadly Red Fort blast case that claimed 11 lives and left several others injured.

The chargesheet, running into around 7,500 pages, was filed earlier on Thursday by the anti-terror agency before the Patiala House Court against 10 accused under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Explosive Substances Act, Arms Act, and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.

The high-intensity Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) explosion had taken place near the Red Fort area on November 10, 2025, triggering a nationwide security alert and causing extensive damage to surrounding property.

According to the NIA, all the accused named in the prosecution complaint were allegedly associated with Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH), an outfit considered an offshoot of Al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).

Among those named in the chargesheet is the alleged mastermind, Dr Umer Un Nabi, a Pulwama-based former Assistant Professor of Medicine at Al-Falah University in Haryana’s Faridabad, who was killed in the blast. The agency has proposed the abatement of charges against him.

The other accused arrayed in the chargesheet include Aamir Rashid Mir, Jasir Bilal Wani, Dr Muzamil Shakeel, Dr Adeel Ahmed Rather, Dr Shaheen Saeed, Mufti Irfan Ahmad Wagay, Soyab, Dr Bilal Naseer Malla and Yasir Ahmad Dar.

The anti-terror agency said its investigation was spread across Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and the Delhi-NCR region, and included examination of 588 witnesses, over 395 documentary records and more than 200 seized exhibits and material objects.

Earlier in March, the Patiala House Court had granted the NIA an additional 45 days to complete its probe in the case after the probe agency submitted that crucial new leads had emerged and a large volume of digital evidence was under examination.

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis arrived at the Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai on a motorcycle on Thursday morning, drawing attention from commuters and onlookers in south Mumbai. Videos of his bike ride with Minister Ashish Shelar have gone viral.

The Chief Minister was seen riding a black Royal Enfield Classic motorcycle, with Maharashtra minister Ashish Shelar seated as the pillion rider. According to reports, Fadnavis rode the bike from his official residence, Varsha Bungalow in Malabar Hill, to Vidhan Bhavan in Nariman Point. The move reportedly came in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for fuel conservation and sustainable transportation practices.

Videos of the Chief Minister’s ride quickly surfaced on social media and went viral online. In the visuals, both Fadnavis and Shelar are seen wearing green helmets as they entered the Vidhan Bhavan premises. Other clips showed the Chief Minister comfortably navigating through Mumbai traffic while riding the motorcycle.

The unusual mode of transport by the Chief Minister sparked curiosity among motorists and pedestrians along the route, with several people stopping to capture the moment on their mobile phones.

The symbolic bike ride is being viewed as a gesture in support of the Prime Minister’s recent appeal urging people to conserve fuel, avoid unnecessary gold purchases and reduce overseas travel in view of ongoing global economic challenges and instability in international energy markets.

Backing the Prime Minister’s call, Fadnavis had earlier said several countries around the world are currently struggling with fuel shortages, inflation and supply-chain disruptions. He said citizens should cooperate during difficult times rather than mock such appeals.

The Chief Minister further stated that every citizen has a responsibility to contribute in their own way during periods of global crisis. He added that the Maharashtra government is also trying to implement the Prime Minister’s message responsibly.

“I believe it is the responsibility of every person to try and implement these measures in their own way. The Maharashtra government will also implement these measures in its own way. We are trying to do this,” he said.

The Prime Minister’s appeal comes amid rising global fuel prices and geopolitical tensions in West Asia, which have impacted energy markets and triggered concerns over inflation and economic stability in several countries.