Top news of the day: Indian Navy ship INS Sumitra foils hijack attempt on fishing vessel; Centre extends ban on SIMI for 5 years, and more

Top news updates from The Hindu on January 29, 2024

Indian Navy ship INS Sumitra foils hijack attempt on fishing vessel

A swift response by an Indian Navy ship, INS Sumitra, deployed in the Gulf of Aden ensured that a hijack situation quickly was resolved ensuring safe release of the hijacked fishing vessel and its crew. “INS Sumitra, on anti-piracy operations along the East coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden, responded to a distress message regarding hijacking of an Iranian flagged Fishing Vessel (FV) Iman. The FV had been boarded by pirates and the crew taken as hostages,” the Navy said in a statement on January 29.

Ministry of Home Affairs extends ban imposed on Students Islamic Movement of India for 5 years

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs extended the ban against the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) for another five years. The organisation was declared an “unlawful association,” under the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for the first time in 2001. The MHA said in a post on X, “SIMI has been found involved in fomenting terrorism, disturbing peace and communal harmony to threaten the sovereignty, security and integrity of Bharat.” To justify the ban, the MHA’s notification on January 29 listed 28 “grounds.”

Elections for 56 Rajya Sabha seats to be held on February 27: ECI

The Election Commission of India has announced that elections for 56 Rajya Sabha seats in 15 States will be held on February 27. The term of office of 56 members of the Council of States elected from 15 States is due to expire on their retirement in April 2024, the ECI said in a statement.

Dictatorship in India is inevitable if PM Modi is re-elected, asserts Kharge