New Delhi:

The Indian Navy on Friday bid adieu to UH-3H helicopter — a versatile platform that has played a crucial role in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations — after 17 years of glorious service, officials said.

The de-induction ceremony was held at INS Dega, Visakhapatnam.

The event was presided by Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command. Veteran officers and sailors of the UH3H squadron graced the event with families reminiscing the yeoman service of the helicopter.

The UH-3H helicopter will be replaced by Sea King 42C helicopter at INAS 350 to continue and deliver operational power and capability, a spokesperson of the Navy said in a statement.

The de-induction ceremony of UH-3H helicopter marks the end of a remarkable era that introduced innovative capabilities in special operations and search and rescue (SAR) missions, the officials said.

The operational role of the UH-3H in the constantly evolving and dynamic maritime environment will remain forever etched in the history of the Indian naval aviation, they said.

Brought to the Indian shores in 2007 along with INS Jalashwa, the UH-3H helicopter was inducted into INAS 350 christened ‘Saaras’ on March 24, 2009 at INS Dega, Visakhapatnam, the statement said.

This versatile helicopter played a crucial role in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations, security of offshore installations and special operations. Its advanced SAR capabilities and logistical support were vital during natural disasters, often making the difference between despair and relief, and saving countless lives, it said.

The mighty ‘Saaras’ adorns the squadron crest embodying the motto ‘Strength, Valour and Perseverance’. The helicopter diligently upheld its commitment, maintaining a vigilant watch, ensuring the security of the nation’s maritime boundaries with unwavering dedication, it said.

As it comes to the end of service life, one UH-3H will be permanently displayed at a prominent location in the ‘City of Destiny’, Visakhapatnam, inspiring future generations, the officials said.

The Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command, handed over a commemorative plaque to the state government on the occasion which was received by K Mayur Ashok, Joint Collector, Visakhapatnam, to mark the transfer of the aircraft.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Singapore:

Three Indian Naval Ships have arrived in Singapore for a three-day visit as part of the operational deployment of the Navy’s Eastern Fleet to the South China Sea, underscoring the strong linkages between both navies.

Led by Rear Admiral (RAdm) Rajesh Dhankhar, Indian Naval Ships Delhi, Shakti, and Kiltan reached the Changi naval base in the city-state on Monday, the Indian Navy spokesperson said in a post on X.

The three ships will leave for Malaysia on Thursday and then visit the Philippines.

The visit is part of the “Op Deployment of #IndianNavy’s @IN_EasternFleet to the #SouthChinaSea,” it said, amidst China flexing its muscles in the South China Sea.

Indian Naval ships #INSDelhi, #INSShakti & #INSKiltan led by RAdm Rajesh Dhankhar, #FOCEF arrived #Singapore on #06May to a warm welcome by personnel of Republic of Singapore Navy, #RSN & the @HCI_Singapore staff.
The visit is part of the Op Deployment of #IndianNavy‘s… pic.twitter.com/stdsQAoC0T

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) May 7, 2024

Currently, the Chinese navy is involved in a standoff with the US-backed Philippines naval ships in the South China Sea.

The Philippines is trying to assert its claim over the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, which is strongly resisted by China.

As part of its expansionist plans, China claims most of the South China Sea. The Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counterclaims.

The three Indian naval ships were welcomed by personnel of the Singapore Navy and the High Commissioner of India in Singapore.

On Tuesday, RAdm Dhankhar and the Indian High Commissioner hosted a reception onboard INS Shakti for 150 guests and missions heads.

The “visit is poised to further strengthen the longstanding friendship and cooperation between the two maritime nations through a series of engagements and activities,” the Ministry of Defence in New Delhi said in a statement.

During the ships’ stay in the harbour, various activities are planned. These include “interactions with the High Commission of India, professional interactions with the Republic of Singapore Navy as also academia and community outreach amongst other activities, reflecting the shared values of both navies,” it said.

The two countries’ navies have had robust relations spanning three decades of cooperation, coordination and collaboration with regular visits, exchange of best practices, and reciprocal training arrangements.

“The current deployment underscores the strong linkages between both the navies,” the statement said.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

China’s third aircraft carrier, Fujian, took to the seas last week for its maiden trials, a significant moment in its naval expansion to challenge the US global presence. The new aircraft carrier is named after the Fujian province and is the largest, most advanced Chinese aircraft carrier ever built. 

Fujian carrier departed from Shanghai’s Jiangnan Shipyard, and the trials will primarily test the reliability and stability of the aircraft carrier’s propulsion and electrical systems, state news agency Xinhua reported.

The trials will be conducted for almost two years before the carrier is inducted in another five years. The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is the “largest navy” in the world, surpassing the US with over 370 battleships, the US Department of Defense said. 

‘More Heavy, More Advanced’

The Fujian carrier is expected to weigh 79,000 tons, carrying the most potent fighter jet launch system – Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS). Currently, the USS Gerald R Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, uses the EMALS launch system. The other Chinese aircraft carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, use the ski-jump system.

CATOBAR and STOBAR are two types of aircraft carrier platforms. Short Take-Off Barrier-Assisted Recovery (STOBAR) comprises an elevated ski-ramp that helps a fighter jet generate lift during a take-off. The STOBAR platform limits the aircraft’s take-off weight, thus affecting the payload capacity. 

Meanwhile, the CATOBAR system uses catapults for take-off. The CATOBAR-based carriers have a steam-powered catapult system, which requires more maintenance, is heavy, and takes more space than its alternative. The EMALS catapult offers more smooth, accurate launching of an aircraft carrier, allowing heavier fighter jets to take off. 

China operates only the Chengdu J-15, the ‘Flying Shark’, fighter jets for its carrier-based operations. J-15 is a fourth-generation fighter jet, which is deployed on its STOBAR carriers. However, the US has critiqued its range/payload limitations in operations from carriers equipped with ski ramps rather than catapults. 

In 2021, China developed a catapult-based version of the fighter jet and is developing its fifth-generation fighters to match the US F-35. The US Department of Defence, in its latest report on Chinese naval modernization, said China is reportedly building a fourth aircraft carrier similar to Fujian and is expected to be nuclear-powered. The Fujian aircraft carrier will be the first conventional-energy-powered platform with the EMALS system. 

China’s Naval Expansion

Since the 1990s, China has witnessed a paradigm shift, with a focus on naval expansion rather than the PLA. The shift was driven by its economic growth through the 90s and early 2000s, which led to a rise in Chinese presence in the global economy and turned it into the manufacturing hub of the world. The PLAN slowly transitioned from a defensive-offensive arm to a force that is capable of conducting out-of-area operations and earned the tag of a Blue Water navy. 

Modernisation, which began three decades ago, focused on ship, aircraft weaponry, fighter jets, creating doctrines, training, multilateral exercises etc. The 2015 Chinese white paper of Defence called for safeguarding the Sea Links of Communication (SLOC) as part of its national interests and said the sea links are vital to China’s future. The Indian Ocean, the maritime backyard of India, is the toll-gate for global East-West trade and China is establishing maritime bases south of India to protect its Maritime Silk Road (MSR). 

The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is home to about 2.5 billion people, with some global economies, like India, a regional power, having a dominant presence in the region. The Strait of Hormuz, Bab-el-Mandeb, Strait of Malacca and the Mozambique Channel are choke points in the region and routes vital to China’s global trade. 

“The vital feature which differentiates the Indian Ocean from the Atlantic or the Pacific is the subcontinent of India, which juts out far into the sea for a thousand miles. It is the geographical position of India that changes the character of the Indian Ocean.” KM Pannikar, a visionary Indian scholar said. The Navy, in its maritime doctrine, says that safeguarding the IOR is in India’s national interest. 

The US DoD suggests that although these carriers have value for China, its operations in Taiwan do not require such platforms since it is within the land-based reach of Chinese aircraft. These platforms assert dominance and are viewed as symbols of power. In a face-off between the US and China, the former will outperform and outmanoeuvre the PLAN with its prowess. Politically, aircraft carriers could be particularly valuable to China for projecting an image of China as a major world power.

China wants its navy to be able to deter “US intervention in a conflict in China’s near-seas region over Taiwan or some other issue, or failing that, delay the arrival or reduce the effectiveness of intervening US forces,” a Congressional Research Service report said.

India’s Third Aircraft Carrier

Former Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said last year that the indigenous aircraft carrier-2 (IAC-2) would be a repeat order of INS Vikrant. “We are still working on what size IAC II should be and the capabilities that are desired. But, for now, we have put a hold on it because we have just commissioned INS Vikrant and we are quite happy with the way the ship performed in the trials.” “A lot of expertise has been gained in building IAC I. We are seriously looking at a repeat order for IAC I rather than building IAC II. This would capitalize on the expertise available in the country and we could plough back into the economy,” he added. 

INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya are built on the STOBAR platform and house the MiG-29K fighter jets. The naval version of Rafale and Tejas are expected to replace the MiGs soon.

The production of INS Vishal would begin soon, but it would still take many years for the new carrier to get commissioned. The size of the Chinese economy and its three times bigger defence budget than India’s should be considered. 

The QUAD alliance between the US, India, Australia and Japan for safeguarding the Indo-Pacific region and the Indian Navy’s regular multilateral exercises in the region ensure regional presence and dominance. 

New Delhi:

The government has appointed Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi as the next Chief of the Indian Navy.

Mr Tripathi is presently the Vice Chief of Navy Staff after having done multiple important assignments in his around 40-year-long vast career and he will assume his new office on April 30.

Prior to taking over as Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, VAdm Dinesh K Tripathi served as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command.

An alumnus of Sainik School Rewa and National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, he was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1985. A Communication and Electronic Warfare specialist, he served on frontline warships of the Navy as Signal Communication Officer and Electronic Warfare Officer, and later as the Executive Officer and Principal Warfare Officer of Guided Missile Destroyer INS Mumbai. He commanded the Indian naval ships Vinash, Kirch and Trishul.

He has also held various important operational and staff appointments, which include Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet at Mumbai, Director of Naval Operations, Principal Director Network Centric Operations and Principal Director Naval Plans at New Delhi. On promotion to the rank of Rear Admiral, he served as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy and Plans) at NHQ and as the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet.

On promotion to the rank of Vice Admiral in Jun 2019, the Flag Officer was appointed as Commandant of the prestigious Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala, Kerala. He was the Director General of Naval Operations from July 2020 to May 2021, a period that witnessed a high tempo of Naval Maritime Operations. He ensured that Navy remained a ‘Combat Ready, Credible, Cohesive and Future Proof Force, ready to address a host of complex security challenges despite all round severity of COVID Pandemic. Later, from Jun 21 to Feb 23, the flag officer served as the Chief of Personnel.

The Admiral is a graduate of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, where he was awarded the Thimmaiya Medal. He also attended the Naval Higher Command Course and Naval Command College at the US Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Islands, in 2007-08, where he won the prestigious Robert E Bateman International Prize.

Vice Admiral Tripathi is a recipient of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and the Nausena Medal for devotion to duty. He is also a keen sportsman and avidly follows tennis, badminton, and cricket.

The Flag Officer is a keen student of international relations, military history and the art & science of leadership. He is married to Shashi Tripathi, an artist and homemaker. The couple has one son, a practicing lawyer, who is married to Tanya, who works in the policy-making domain.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The government has appointed Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi as the next Chief of the Indian Navy.

Mr Tripathi is presently the Vice Chief of Navy Staff after having done multiple important assignments in his around 40-year-long vast career and he will assume his new office on April 30.

Prior to taking over as Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, VAdm Dinesh K Tripathi served as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command.

An alumnus of Sainik School Rewa and National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, he was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1985. A Communication and Electronic Warfare specialist, he served on frontline warships of the Navy as Signal Communication Officer and Electronic Warfare Officer, and later as the Executive Officer and Principal Warfare Officer of Guided Missile Destroyer INS Mumbai. He commanded the Indian naval ships Vinash, Kirch and Trishul.

He has also held various important operational and staff appointments, which include Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet at Mumbai, Director of Naval Operations, Principal Director Network Centric Operations and Principal Director Naval Plans at New Delhi. On promotion to the rank of Rear Admiral, he served as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy and Plans) at NHQ and as the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet.

On promotion to the rank of Vice Admiral in Jun 2019, the Flag Officer was appointed as Commandant of the prestigious Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala, Kerala. He was the Director General of Naval Operations from July 2020 to May 2021, a period that witnessed a high tempo of Naval Maritime Operations. He ensured that Navy remained a ‘Combat Ready, Credible, Cohesive and Future Proof Force, ready to address a host of complex security challenges despite all round severity of COVID Pandemic. Later, from Jun 21 to Feb 23, the flag officer served as the Chief of Personnel.

The Admiral is a graduate of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, where he was awarded the Thimmaiya Medal. He also attended the Naval Higher Command Course and Naval Command College at the US Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Islands, in 2007-08, where he won the prestigious Robert E Bateman International Prize.

Vice Admiral Tripathi is a recipient of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and the Nausena Medal for devotion to duty. He is also a keen sportsman and avidly follows tennis, badminton, and cricket.

The Flag Officer is a keen student of international relations, military history and the art & science of leadership. He is married to Shashi Tripathi, an artist and homemaker. The couple has one son, a practicing lawyer, who is married to Tanya, who works in the policy-making domain.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The Indian Navy carried out 18 rescue ops in the Arabian Sea since mid-December under its Operation Sankalp, launched after attacks on merchant ships in the Gulf of Oman in June 2019.

The Navy has been responding to the manifestation of the Israel-Hamas conflict in the maritime domain, especially in the Red Sea corridor – one of the world’s busiest cargo and oil transit points – since December 2023.

The Navy responded to at least 18 incidents between December 2023 and March 2024 and played a pivotal role as the “first responder” and the “preferred security partner” in the Indian Ocean Region, it said in a statement. During this period, the Navy came to the aid of several nations as the menace of pirate attacks in this major trade route was compounded by drone and missile strikes.

How Navy Secured A Pirate Mother Ship

Pirates hijacked a Malta-flagged cargo vessel with the call sign Ruen on December 14, 2023. An SOS was sent out by the crew onboard and the Navy began tracking it as soon as it was indicated that six pirates had illegally boarded it in the Arabian Sea.

It deployed a warship on anti-piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden to locate and assist the seized vehicle.

#IndianNavy has responded to the manifestation of Israel – Hamas conflict in the maritime domain by re-orienting & significantly enhancing the scope of its ongoing #maritimesecurityoperations since mid-Dec 23. The navy undertook proactive actions during the hijacking of Malta… pic.twitter.com/r5dNiW6PN4

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) March 23, 2024

Soon it was indicated that a crew of the vessel had been injured. The Navy launched a rescue op and evacuated the injured sailor from the vessel within four days. He was then flown to Oman for treatment.

However, the pirates overtook control of MV Ruen and steered it towards the Somalian coast.

Since then, at least a dozen warships have been deployed in the Gulf of Aden and the northern Arabian Sea to assist vessels east of the Red Sea, where the navies of several countries, including the US, are trying to secure the route from Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

Since the hijacking, the Navy kept the region under “continuous surveillance activities”, using aerial platforms and other vessels to gather information and monitor the region.

Several days and three months later, MV Ruen was spotted off the Somali coast on March 14, information came in from the British maritime security firm Ambrey.

The pirates converted the bulk carrier into a mothership to attack other ships. On March 15, the Indian Navy re-routed its warship INS Kolkata to intercept it. INS Kolkata sailed over 2,600 km and cornered the vessel the next morning.

Forty hours later, the Navy forced 35 Somali pirates to surrender and rescued 17 crew members held hostage on the hijacked ship.

The high-stakes op involved multiple Navy vessels, drones, aircraft, and marine commandos. 

INS Subhadra – a patrol vessel, High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE RPA) drones, and P8I maritime patrol aircraft joined forces to help INS Kolkata take control of the pirate mother-ship.

A squad of eight marine commandos (MARCOS PRAHARs) were airdropped by a C-17 aircraft onto the vessel to detain the pirates and safely evacuate the crew. No injuries were reported during the audacious operation.

Navy To The Rescue Of Pakistani Nationals

Days after INS Kolkata’s operation, the Navy rescued 23 Pakistani nationals from a hijacked Iranian fishing vessel “Al-Kambar 786”.

INS Sumedha intercepted the fishing vessel in the early hours of March 29 and was subsequently joined by the guided missile frigate INS Trishul.

#IndianNavy Responds to Piracy Attack in the #ArabianSea.

Inputs received on a potential piracy incident onboard Iranian Fishing Vessel ‘Al-Kambar’ late evening on #28Mar 24, approx 90 nm South West of Socotra.
Two Indian Naval ships, mission deployed in the #ArabianSea for… pic.twitter.com/PdEZiCAu3t

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) March 29, 2024

A distress call was sent out by the vessel on March 28 approximately 90 nautical miles southwest of Socotra – an island of Yemen in the Indian Ocean – when nine armed pirates reportedly boarded it.

Successful Anti-Piracy Operation by the #IndianNavy.
After successfully forcing surrender of the nine armed pirates, #IndianNavy‘s specialist teams have completed sanitisation & seaworthiness checks of FV Al-Kambar.
The crew comprising 23 Pakistani nationals were given a thorough… https://t.co/APEyIWmU9epic.twitter.com/c6TbfL4Jrc

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) March 30, 2024

After over 12 hours of “intense coercive tactical measures”, the Navy forced the pirates on board the hijacked FV to surrender. The crew, comprising 23 Pakistani nationals, have been safely rescued,” it added.

The Navy saved 110 lives, including of 45 Indians, in the 100 days starting December 14, 2023. More than 90 maritime incidents have happened, including 57 drone or missile attacks or sightings and 39 incidents of piracy, hijacking, and suspicious approaches between November last year and March.

New Delhi:

As many as 23 Pakistani nationals rescued by the Indian Navy from Somali pirates after a daring operation in the Arabian Sea on March 29 thanked India and raised slogans of ‘India Zindabad’.

The Indian Navy’s specialist team had protected them from nine armed pirates, and completed sanitization and seaworthiness checks of fishing vessel Al-Kambar.

The Pakistani crew of the rescued Iranian flagged fishing vessel could be seen raising “India Zindabad” slogans in the Arabian Sea after they were rescued from the pirates.

#WATCH | The crew comprising 23 Pakistani nationals thanked the Indian Navy and raise ‘India Zindabad’ slogans after the Indian Navy’s specialist team protected them from nine armed pirates, and completed sanitisation and seaworthiness checks of FV Al-Kambar.

The crew were… https://t.co/AREXZTtqiRpic.twitter.com/0QE4B7GfSe

— ANI (@ANI) March 30, 2024

Based on the inputs on a potential piracy incident onboard Iranian Fishing Vessel late evening on March 28, two Indian Naval ships, mission deployed in the Arabian Sea for maritime security operations were diverted to intercept the hijacked fishing vessel.

The FV at the time of incident was approximately 90 Nm south-west of Socotra and was reported to have been boarded by nine armed pirates. The hijacked FV was intercepted on March 29.

The Indian Navy remains committed to ensuring maritime security in the region and safety of seafarers, irrespective of nationalities, according to the statement.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Indian Navy ships free hijacked Iranian fishing vessel off Somalia, rescue 23 Pakistani nationals

Indian Naval Ships Sumedha and Trishul intercepted and freed hijacked Iranian Fishing Vessel Al-Kambar off Somalia after forcing the pirates to surrender over the course of 12 hours and safely rescued the crew consisting of 23 Pakistani nationals. “After more than 12 hours of intense coercive tactical measures as per the Standard Operating Procedures, the pirates on board hijacked FV were forced to surrender. The crew, comprising 23 Pakistani nationals, have been safely rescued,” a Navy spokesperson said in an update on March 29 midnight. “Indian Naval specialist teams are presently undertaking thorough sanitisation and seaworthiness checks of the FV in order to escort her to a safe area for resuming normal fishing activities.”

Netanyahu approves new Gaza ceasefire talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved new talks on a Gaza ceasefire, a day after the world’s top court ordered Israel to ensure urgent humanitarian aid reaches people in the Palestinian territory .But despite a binding United Nations Security Council resolution this week demanding an “immediate ceasefire”, fighting continued Friday, including around hospitals.

National parties often ignore regional aspirations, says AIADMK general secretary Edappadi Palaniswami

Criticising national parties for “ignoring” regional aspirations “many times”, AIADMK general secretary and Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Friday said that regional parties, such as his own, were better equipped to represent the people and expedite development initiatives in the States. In an interview to The Hindu at his official residence, Sevanthi, on Greenways Salai in Chennai, Mr. Palaniswami, who took time off his busy Lok Sabha election campaign schedule, said that “In a country such as ours with much diversity”, regional parties fulfilled the regional aspirations.

AAP pulls out all stops for mega Oppn. rally in Delhi

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is pulling out all the stops to ensure a large turnout at the Opposition’s ‘maha rally’ at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on Sunday. Several senior leaders of the Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc are likely to attend the event to express solidarity with Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, who is in ED custody on corruption charges.

IPL-17: RCB vs KKR | Venkatesh Iyer’s 50, Narine’s cameo carry KKR to seven-wicket win over RCB

A ruthless fifty by Venkatesh Iyer worked as the catalyst for Kolkata Knight Riders’ smooth seven-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their IPL match here on Friday. Venkatesh’s 50 of 30 balls (3×4, 4×6) and stunning blitzes by openers Sunil Narine (47, 22b, 2×4, 5×6) and Phil Salt (30, 20b, 2×4, 2×6) propelled the Knight Riders past the 183-run target that the RCB set for them, which was built around Virat Kohli’s skilful unbeaten 83. The KKR batters never got bogged down either by a slow pitch or RCB bowlers as they hunted down the target in just 16.5 overs.

Pappu Yadav hints at rebellion; Congress deeply unhappy with seat sharing in Bihar

With a formal stamp on the seat division in Bihar and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) keeping Purnia for itself, the Congress is left with a Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav-size headache and also has to contend with enraged State leaders who find the principal opposition party settling for too little. The Congress has got nine out of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in the State and in majority of these seats, the party leadership claims, it has nominal presence, with a caste arithmetic leaning in favour of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.

The Rameshwaram Cafe blast case: NIA announces ₹10 lakh reward on each of the two absconding prime accused

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has released the photographs and details of the two absconding prime accused in The Rameshwaram Cafe blast case — Abdul Matheen Ahmed Taahaa, 30, and Mussavir Hussain Shazib, 30 — and announced a reward of ₹10 lakh on each of them. The NIA had on Thursday identified Mussavir Hussain as the alleged bomber at the restaurant and Abdul Matheen Taaha as the key conspirator behind the attack. NIA has said the informant’s identities will be kept confidential.

Yusuf Pathan removes photograph of World Cup-winning squad after Congress complains to EC

Former cricketer and Trinamool Congress candidate from Baharampur Yusuf Pathan on Friday began removing photographs of the Cricket World Cup-winning moment used by his supporters as campaign material in the Lok Sabha seat. The development comes after West Bengal Congress lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India (EC) accusing the former cricketer of violating the model code of conduct (MCC) by using posters of India’s World Cup-winning moments in 2011.

Stalin questions the ‘mysterious’ PMK-BJP tie-up

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday questioned the “mystery” behind the alliance between the PMK and the BJP, when the former speaks of social justice and the latter “tolls the death knell for social justice”. At an election meeting to canvass for the INDIA bloc’s Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri candidates R. Mani (DMK) and K. Gopinath (Congress) respectively, Mr. Stalin asked whether “the venerable Dr. Ramadoss (PMK founder), who champions the call for caste census, secured a guarantee from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah on the same? Did he ask Mr. Modi why did he not initiate the census during his term now,” Mr. Stalin asked.

Uncontrolled celebratory firing is recipe for disaster: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court, in a judgment, has highlighted the often disastrous consequences of “uncontrolled and unwarranted” celebratory firing at weddings, including the maiming or loss of innocent lives. This is the second time in as many years the court has raised its voice against the culture of gun-toting bravado. In February 2023, the court had condemned the easy availability and possession of guns, mostly country-made or unlicensed, in States like Uttar Pradesh as a feudal practice that cocks a snook at a very basic fundamental right — the right to life — guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.

After veto, Russia says big powers need to stop ‘strangling’ North Korea

Russia said on March 29 that major powers needed a new approach to North Korea, accusing the United States and its allies of ratcheting up military tensions in Asia and seeking to “strangle” the reclusive state. Russia vetoed the annual renewal of a panel of experts monitoring enforcement of longstanding United Nations sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes.

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar takes a swipe at Opposition for rallying behind Kejriwal

In an apparent swipe at the Opposition for rallying behind the beleaguered Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday pointed out how one breaking the law was playing the victim card. Mr. Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 in a money laundering case linked to Delhi’s scrapped excise policy.  Without naming the U.S. and Germany, who have reacted strongly to Mr. Kejriwal’s arrest, Mr. Dhankhar said “India does not need lessons from any country on rule of law.”

Moscow concert hall attack: Nine detained in Tajikistan, Russian state media reports

Nine persons have been detained by Tajikistan’s state security service over suspected contact with the perpetrators of last week’s attack by gunmen on a suburban Moscow concert hall that killed 144 people, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti said on March 29. “Nine residents of the Vakhdat district were detained for contact with the persons who committed the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall on March 22,” the agency reported, citing information from an unnamed source in Tajikistan’s special services, who said that Russian security forces were also involved in the operation to detain the suspects.

Wives on the driving seat, Bihar’s bahubalis keep poll clout intact

Having weathered allegations, criminal cases and even long prison stints, Bihar’s bahubalis (strongmen) are back in action in Bihar’s politics. Like previous elections, their wives are in the fray, but voters clearly understand who’s calling the shots. Lovely Anand, wife of strongman Anand Mohan Singh; Bima Bharti, wife of Awadhesh Mandal; and Anita Mahto, wife of Ashok Mahto, are better known as Mrs. Bahubalis. Their husbands hold sway in their respective constituencies and beyond but cannot contest the poll directly owing to rules that prohibit convicts jailed for over two years from contesting elections “until six years after release”. This is not too different from mukhiapatis (village head’s husband) in Bihar reigning supreme at village panchayats with their elected wives (mukhias) watching from the sidelines.

‘Writers, journalists, social activists being jailed for merely criticising Indian government’

Expressing concern over the “prolonged incarceration” of a large number of writers, journalists, and social activists for criticising the Indian government, a group of eminent personalities have sought to draw the world’s attention on how India’s “democratic tradition is being fundamentally undermined.”

Lok Sabha polls: Trinamool alleges BJP leaders using NIA to target its party leaders

Trinamool Congress on Friday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates contesting the Lok Sabha polls are conspiring with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to have certain leaders of the State’s ruling party arrested ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said that two BJP candidates have held a meeting with the NIA officer in Kolkata regarding summon and arrest of Trinamool Congress leaders in the State’s Purba Medinipur district. Referring to an NIA official, Mr. Ghosh asked whether two BJP leaders met the official and “handed over a list of @AITCofficial leaders and workers for immediate summon and arrest, or not”.

New Delhi:

The Indian Navy responded to a pirate attack in the Arabian Sea and rescued an Iranian fishing vessel and its crew of 23 Pakistani nationals in an over 12-hour-long anti-piracy operation.

“Based on inputs on a potential piracy incident onboard an Iranian Fishing Vessel ‘Al-Kambar 786’ late evening on March 28, two Indian Naval ships – mission deployed in the Arabian Sea for maritime security operations – were diverted to intercept the hijacked fishing vessel,” the Navy said in a statement.

“After more than 12 hours of intense coercive tactical measures as per the SOPs, the pirates on board the hijacked FV were forced to surrender. The crew, comprising 23 Pakistani nationals, have been safely rescued,” it added.

Indian naval teams then thoroughly sanitised the vessel and checked its seaworthiness to escort her to safety so normal fishing activities could resume, the statement further read.

#IndianNavy Responds to Piracy Attack in the #ArabianSea.

Inputs received on a potential piracy incident onboard Iranian Fishing Vessel ‘Al-Kambar’ late evening on #28Mar 24, approx 90 nm South West of Socotra.
Two Indian Naval ships, mission deployed in the #ArabianSea for… pic.twitter.com/PdEZiCAu3t

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) March 29, 2024

On March 29, INS Sumedha intercepted the fishing vessel, or FV, Al-Kambar in the early hours after a distress call was sent out and was subsequently joined by the guided missile frigate INS Trishul.

The vessel was approximately 90 nautical miles southwest of Socotra – an island of Yemen in the Indian Ocean – when nine armed pirates reportedly boarded it.

Earlier this month, the Indian Navy carried out another daring operation and intercepted a ship, Ruen, sailing almost 2,600 km from the shores of the Indian Coast when pirates attacked it. The Navy forced the pirate ship to stop through calibrated actions.

In the 40-hour rescue operation, INS Kolkata successfully forced all 35 pirates to surrender and ensured the safe evacuation of 17 crew members from the vessel without any injuries.

In another operation, the Navy promptly responded to a distress call from the Gulf of Aden where a merchant vessel caught fire after being hit by a missile, and rescued 21 crew members, including an Indian.

“The Indian Navy remains committed to ensuring maritime security in the region and the safety of seafarers, irrespective of nationalities,” it said.

New Delhi:

In a daring 40-hour operation, the Indian Navy on Saturday coerced 35 Somali pirates to surrender and rescued 17 crew members held hostage on a hijacked ship, the Navy said in a statement.

Indian warship INS Kolkata sailed over 2,600 km and cornered the bulk cargo vessel Ruen which was being used as a pirate ship for three months after it was hijacked on December 14.

The high stakes rescue involved multiple Navy vessels, drones, aircrafts and marine commandos.

As an Indian aircraft approached the hijacked ship, the pirates opened fire at it. In a video shared by the Navy, a pirate is seen walking onto the deck of the ship and aim his gun at the aircraft hovering over the vessel and fire twice.

#IndianNavy thwarts designs of Somali pirates to hijack ships plying through the region by intercepting ex-MV Ruen.

The ex-MV Ruen, which had been hijacked by Somali pirates on #14Dec 23, was reported to have sailed out as a pirate ship towards conducting acts of #piracy on high… pic.twitter.com/gOtQJvNpZb

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) March 16, 2024

The pirates also attacked a Navy vessel as it intercepted the hijacked vessel.

After being attacked on Friday, Navy switched its stance to self-defence and demanded the pirates surrender and release the hostages.

On Saturday, the Navy successfully took control of the ship with support from patrol vessel INS Subhadra, High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE RPA) drones and P8I maritime patrol aircraft.

A squad of 8 marine commandos (MARCOS PRAHARs) were then airdropped by a C-17 aircraft onto the vessel to detain the pirates and safely evacuate the crew.

No injuries were sustained during the operation, the Navy said, adding that the ship had been checked for illegal arms, ammunition and contraband.

“#IndianNavy thwarts designs of Somali pirates to hijack ships plying through the region by intercepting ex-MV Ruen. The ex-MV Ruen, which had been hijacked by Somali pirates on #14Dec 23, was reported to have sailed out as a pirate ship towards conducting acts of #piracy on high seas. The #IndianNavy remains committed to #maritimesecurity & safety of seafarers in the region,” the Navy said in a statement.