Connect with us

National

Indian Navy Enhances Maritime Security in the Indian Ocean Region with IOS Sagar and AIKEYME Initiatives

Published

on

The Indian Navy is set to introduce two significant initiatives—IOS Sagar and AIKEYME—that aim to reinforce its role as the ‘Preferred Security Partner’ and ‘First Responder’ in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). These endeavors align with the Indian Navy’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with maritime agencies throughout the IOR, in line with the Indian government’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).

According to a statement from the Naval spokesperson, the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar initiative seeks to enhance maritime collaboration with nations in the IOR. As part of this initiative, the Indian Navy will deploy INS Sunayna to the Southwest IOR, staffed by a joint crew that includes personnel from India and nine Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs): Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and South Africa.

During its month-long mission in April 2025, INS Sunayna will visit ports in Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania), Nacala (Mozambique), Port Louis (Mauritius), Port Victoria (Seychelles), and Male (Maldives). The vessel will also undertake joint surveillance activities in the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of Tanzania, Mozambique, Mauritius, and Seychelles.

In recognition of the mutual commitment between India and African nations to maritime security, the Indian Navy, in collaboration with the Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Force (TPDF), is launching the inaugural ‘Africa India Key Maritime Engagement’ (AIKEYME), which translates to ‘Unity’ in Sanskrit. This large-scale multilateral maritime exercise aims to bolster interoperability among participating navies and maritime agencies to effectively address challenges such as piracy, illicit trafficking, and unregulated fishing, enabled through improved information sharing and joint surveillance.

Scheduled for mid-April 2025 in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, AIKEYME will be inaugurated by the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri, Shri Rajnath Singh. This six-day exercise will involve participation from Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa, alongside co-hosts India and Tanzania.

The Harbour Phase of AIKEYME will include tabletop and command post exercises focused on piracy and information sharing. Additionally, participating nations will engage in seamanship training and Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) operations. The Sea Phase will comprise a series of maritime exercises, including search and rescue operations, VBSS drills, small arms firing, seamanship evolutions, and helicopter maneuvers.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

National

MBBS Student Alleges She Was Drugged, Raped by Friend in Delhi Hotel

Published

on

New Delhi: An 18-year-old MBBS student has accused a 20-year-old male friend of drugging and sexually assaulting her at a hotel in Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar area. The alleged incident took place on September 9, police officials said.

According to the complaint, the accused, who is also a medical student, invited the woman to “Hotel Apple” on the pretext of spending time together. Once there, he allegedly gave her a drink laced with drugs and then raped her.

The survivor told police that the accused recorded obscene videos and took pictures during the assault. He later threatened to make the content viral if she reported the incident.

The woman, a native of Jind in Haryana, is currently staying at the hostel of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College in Rohini, Delhi.

Based on her complaint, police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. A search is underway to locate and arrest the accused, officials added.

In a separate case earlier this month, a school manager in Uttar Pradesh was arrested for allegedly raping a Class 8 student. In February, a tuition teacher in Delhi’s CR Park area was accused of repeatedly raping a 15-year-old student over three years and threatening her with blackmail.

Continue Reading

National

8 Patients Dead In Jaipur Hospital Fire

Published

on

Jaipur: Eight patients died after a fire broke out at the trauma centre of the state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur late Sunday night.

Officials said the blaze started in the storage area of the Neuro ICU, possibly due to a short circuit. There were 11 patients in the ICU at the time. Smoke quickly spread, causing panic among patients and staff.

Hospital workers and attendants tried to rescue patients, even moving them out on their beds. Firefighters controlled the blaze in about two hours.

Families of the victims alleged that hospital staff ignored early warnings about smoke and fled during the fire.

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and other ministers visited the hospital to review the situation and assured a detailed probe into the incident.

Continue Reading

National

75-Year-Old Man Marries 35-Year-Old, Dies Before Honeymoon

Published

on

Uttar Pradesh: A 75-year-old man who remarried in search of companionship died barely hours after his wedding, sparking shock and speculation in his village.

The deceased, identified as Sangruram, a resident of Kuchhmuchh village in Jaunpur district, had been living alone after losing his first wife a year ago. With no children, he supported himself through farming. Despite advice from relatives against remarriage, Sangruram wed 35-year-old Manbhavati, a resident of Jalalpur area, on Monday, September 29.

The marriage was first registered in court, followed by traditional rituals at a local temple. According to Manbhavati, the couple spent most of the wedding night conversing, as Sangruram assured her that she would take responsibility for the household while he would “take care of the children.”

However, by the next morning, his health deteriorated suddenly. He was rushed to hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

The unexpected death has triggered varied reactions in the village. While some residents believe it to be a natural occurrence given his age, others have expressed suspicion about the circumstances.

Relatives, including nephews residing in Delhi, have halted funeral rites until their arrival. They have also raised questions about whether a police inquiry or post-mortem examination will be conducted before the cremation.

Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding further investigation.

Continue Reading

Trending