An Indian warship patrolling the western Arabian Sea was attacked by Somali pirates aboard a hijacked merchant vessel, MV Ruen, prompting the Indian Navy's self-defensive response. The pirates, who had held the vessel for three months, targeted the warship, leading to a 40-hour standoff. Elite marine commandos were deployed via air-drop to counter the threat. Through coordinated efforts, INS Kolkata compelled the pirates to surrender, securing the release of 17 crew members without harm. The operation, conducted over 1400 nautical miles from the Indian coast, involved multiple naval assets and surveillance measures. This incident underscores the Indian Navy's vigilance amidst escalating threats in the Arabian Sea, including piracy and attacks on merchant vessels by rebel groups.

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Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar highlighted four major challenges ahead of the upcoming general elections: muscle power, money, misinformation, and violations of the model code of conduct (MCC). Kumar emphasized that each state faces these challenges to varying degrees and outlined specific plans to address them. The MCC's significance was underscored, stressing campaigns should focus on issues and avoid hate speech or appeals based on caste or religion. The Election Commission will take a calibrated approach to MCC violations, ensuring accountability regardless of political affiliation. Additionally, measures to prevent poll violence, monitor financial irregularities, and crackdown on illegal goods distribution were outlined. The commission aims for cleaner elections by collaborating with enforcement agencies and implementing stringent monitoring mechanisms.