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MT Chem Pluto: Indian Navy Forensic Analysis Points Toward ‘Drone’ Attack On Merchant Vessel

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The Indian Navy (Explosive Ordnance Disposal team) analysis of the area of attack on MT Chem Pluto confirmed that the vessel affiliated to Israeli shipping magnate Idan Ofer was hit by a drone off the Gujarat coast on Saturday (December 24) . The debris found on chemical tanker MT Chem Pluto escorted by Coast Gaurs patrol vessel ICGS Vikram in the outer anchorage off Mumbai confirmed the drone attack. Meanwhile, the ship was escorted to Mumbai.

“Further forensic and technical analysis will be required to establish the vector of attack including type and amount of explosive used,” said a senior naval official investigating the drone attack inside the Indian exclusive economic zone.

The special explosives teams inspection for preliminary assessment of the type and nature of attack on Liberian flag chemical tanker MV Chem Pluto by suspected drone early Saturday confirmed drone with an explosives payload was used to hit the commercial shipping in Indian territorial waters.

MT Chemo Pluto escorted to Mumbai

MT Chemo Pluto was escorted to Mumbai by Coast Guard patrol vessel ICGS Vikrqm and anchored safely at Outer Anchorage off Mumbai at 3.30 pm on Monday. A Joint Investigation team of various agencies commenced on completion of the analysis by the Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Team and was cleared for further operation by her company-in-charge at Mumbai.

“The ship is scheduled to undergo mandatory checks by the various inspecting authorities before undertaking Ship to Ship (STS) transfer of cargo at Indira Docks,” said another naval official. MT Chem Pluto will have to underground to extensive repairs after docking.

INS Mormugao deployed

Indian Navy has deployed Guided Missile Destroyers, INS Mormugao, INS Kochi and INS Kolkata in the Arabian Sea to maintain a deterrent presence following spate of drone and missile attacks in the Indian Ocean region. Indian Navy has tasked long range maritime reconnaissance P8I aircraft to maintain domain awareness.

Western Naval Command’s Maritime Operations Centre actively monitoring the situation in close coordination with Coast Guard and all concerned agencies for any suspicious activities in the Indian Ocean region

Attack explained

In simple terms, it was attacked from the rear by the explosives-laden drone launched from another vessel off the western coast of India in the exclusive economic zone or Indian territorial waters which is an act of aggression on the sovereignty of India.

200 Nautical Miles into the sea from the shore line is the exclusive economic zone according to international maritime regulations.

India has petitioned the United Nations (UN) to expand its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Arabian Sea near the coast of Gujarat and Mumbai to 500 nautical miles from the current boundary of 200 nautical miles to challenge the grey zone policy adopted by China and Pakistan to intrude into Indian territorial waters.

Chinese vessels venturing closer to the coast of Gujarat and Mumbai

The rising incidents of Chinese vessels venturing closer to the coast of Gujarat and Mumbai in the Arabian sea collecting marine data, location of submarines, pipelines and activities of Indian ports has raised major security concerns in the Indian defence establishment.

“Most Chinese vessels are strategically ensconced just outside 200 nautical miles where India’s current EEZ ends,” confirmed senior naval commander with the Indian Naval Offshore Defence Advisory Group.

Maritime experts identified most of the Chinese ships are on the sanction list of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), US Department of Treasury and the watchlist of Greenpeace near the Mumbai coast.

Drone hit on the stern of MT Chem Pluto

The drone hit on the stern of MT Chem Pluto severely damaging the power generation and electric supply on the chemical tanker. The vessel also suffered structural damage leading to slower propulsion and reduced speed of about 9 knots under escort from ICGS Vikram after the drone attack.

Maharashtra

Shiv Sena wave in North Maharashtra, Dr. Shrikant Shinde takes charge of election campaign

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Mumbai Nandurbar: Shiv Sena is on a wave in North Maharashtra. A large number of “Ladli Bheenas” and youth are participating in the rallies of Shiv Sena youth leader Dr. Shrikant Shinde. Dr. Shinde launched his election campaign in North Maharashtra today. Addressing the gathering, he said that the Mahayoti government has taken strong steps to empower women and youth, which is why Maharashtra’s Ladli Behna Yojana is becoming self-reliant. Attacking the opposition, he said that many opposition leaders were opposing the “Ladli Behna Yojana” but under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, this scheme was implemented and it will not be stopped under any circumstances. The opposition is only spreading confusion, Ladli Behna will respond with their votes. Dr. Shrikant Shinde explained that in the last three years, Shiv Sena has reached every corner of Maharashtra under the leadership of Eknath Shinde. Shinde Sahib is empowering his workers by holding eight meetings every day. He has an Urban Development Department, which has resulted in record-breaking funding for the backward villages of Maharashtra, paving the way for strong rural development.

Dr. Shrikant Shinde criticized UBT and said that some people are experts in criticizing, but they have never done any concrete work for the people. That is why today Mahayoti candidates are seen everywhere. The people are well aware of the state of the opposition.

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Maharashtra

Kalyan College Namaz Controversy: SIO Demands Action Against Perpetrators

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Mumbai: SIO has demanded strict action against the hooliganism of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad on offering prayers in Mumbai’s Kalyan College. Here, State Secretary SIO Aziz Ahmed said that
The incident that took place at Ideal College of Pharmacy and Research in Kalyan is highly condemnable and unacceptable, where hooligans belonging to Bajrang Dal entered the college campus, threatened and harassed Muslim students for offering prayers and even tried to make them sit in front of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. This incident is a direct attack on religious freedom and the sanctity of the educational campus.

SIO strongly condemns this incident and expresses complete solidarity with the affected students. We demand that strict action be taken against the accused at the earliest, the college administration ensure the safety of the students and take concrete steps to prevent such incidents in the future.

We appeal to the entire student community to maintain religious harmony and remain united against such sectarian attitudes and demonstrate strong solidarity.

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Maharashtra

Five-year-old kidnapped girl rescued from Vakola, five arrested, girl held hostage by uncle in Panol

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Mumbai: Police has claimed to have arrested five accused, including uncle Momani, on charges of kidnapping a five-year-old girl. The gang had planned to kidnap and sell the girl. A case of kidnapping of a minor girl was registered on November 22 under the limits of Vakola police station. Several teams were formed in Zones 8 and 7. During the investigation, it was revealed that a suspicious rickshaw had gone to Panvel and returned. A man, a woman, a rickshaw driver and the girl were in the rickshaw between 2 and 3 am. The kidnappers were identified as the girl’s uncle Lawrence Niconelis Fernandes, 42, and his wife Momani, who is a Mangal degree, both of them had gone to Panvel by rickshaw and were going to sell the kidnapped girl. The kidnapped girl was recovered from the possession of their acquaintance Sans. The Sans gave details about the wanted accused during the investigation, after which Windra Dinesh Chavan, 60, and Anjali Ajit Korgaokar, 57, were arrested from New Panvel, Raigad. The kidnapped girl was sold for Rs 1,80,000 and Vrinda Chavan was taken into custody from her house and the girl was safely brought to Vakola. This operation was carried out by DCP Manish Kalwaniya on the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti and the girl was recovered safely. In this case, the police have arrested rickshaw driver Latif Abdul Majeed Sheikh, 52, a resident of Santa Cruz, Lawrence Nicholas Fernandes, 42, a laborer from Raigarh, Mangal Dagra Jadhav, 38, from Raigarh, Kiran Maruti Sons, 38, from Panvel, Vrinda Vanish Chavan, 60, from Raigarh and the investigation is underway.

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