“We will find them even if it is from the depths of the sea”: Rajnath Singh on the drone attackers

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday at the commissioning ceremony of INS Imphal stated that the central government has taken recent drone attacks on commercial ships in the Arabian Sea very seriously, and he assured that India will find the perpetrators behind these attacks "even from the depths of the sea." The commissioning ceremony of INS Imphal was attended by the likes of Chief of Naval Staff R Hari Kumar, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, and other senior officers.

"The Government of India has taken the recent drone attack on 'MV Chem Pluto' in the Arabian Sea and the earlier attack on 'MV Sai Baba' in the Red Sea very seriously. The Indian Navy has increased surveillance on the sea. Whoever has carried out this attack, we will find them even if it is from the depths of the sea. Those behind these attacks would be brought to justice," asserted Rajnath Singh.

To establish a strong deterrent, the Indian Navy has positioned numerous aircraft and destroyers in the area. Emphasizing India's commitment to enhancing maritime trade in the region, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh stated that the country will strive to elevate the standards of maritime commerce. "I believe that the commissioning of INS IMPHAL will further strengthen India's naval power. It has been named after IMPHAL, which represents the Glory of the Northeast. It was sanctioned in Delhi, which is in North India," said the Union Minister.

The 15B project, which includes the commissioning of INS Imphal, encompasses four major cities in India – Visakhapatnam, Murmugaon, Imphal, and Surat. INS Imphal is categorized under the Visakhapatnam class, symbolizing South India, and was constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders in Mumbai, representing Western India, and it reflects the unity and integrity of India across North-South and East-West dimensions.

Last week, the merchant vessel Chem Pluto, flagged under Liberia and operated by an Indian crew, faced a projectile attack. The Indian Navy, escorting the ship, brought it to Mumbai.