New Delhi:The Ministry of External Affairs dismissed reports of attacks on an Indian-crewed tanker, MT Liaki Freedom, off the coast of Oman, which had triggered fresh concerns amid a series of such incidents in the region, clarifying that all the crew members were safe after directly speaking with the vessel's master.

MEA sources said immediate contact was established with the ship to verify the situation, given the heightened sensitivity surrounding recent incidents involving commercial vessels in the Gulf region.

"We have spoken with the Master of the vessel Liaki Freedom, who has confirmed that all crew members are safe and that the reported information is false," a MEA source said.

The clarification effectively dismissed the claim of a fresh attack and confirmed that no incident had taken place involving the vessel, bringing clarity amid rising concern over repeated misinformation and unverified reports circulating on social media.The MEA's fact-check unit also flagged the claim as fake.

"Fake News Alert! Please stay alert against such false and baseless claims and posts on social media", it posted on X, tagging a post that falsely claimed: "Fourth US strike on Indian-crewed tanker in a week: MT Liaki Freedom hit off Oman, four sailors dead'.

The government's rapid response highlights increasing concern over misinformation surrounding maritime security incidents, especially those involving Indian seafarers operating in high-risk waters near the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman.

Source:Ndtv