Amidst the maritime landscape, the Indian Navy is set to inaugurate Naval Detachment Minicoy as INS Jatayu on March 6, marking a strategic move aimed at progressively fortifying security infrastructure in the pivotal Lakshadweep Islands, as disclosed by authoritative sources. The commissioning ceremony, scheduled for Saturday, will witness the presence of Navy Chief Adm R Hari Kumar.
This occasion signifies a momentous stride in the Navy’s commitment to systematically enhance security frameworks in the strategically significant Lakshadweep Islands, emphasized a senior official. Established in the early 1980s, Naval Detachment Minicoy operates under the command of the Naval Officer-in-Charge (Lakshadweep).
Minicoy, situated as the southernmost isle in Lakshadweep, strategically spans the critical Sea Lines of Communications (SLOCs). Deploying an autonomous naval entity, equipped with essential infrastructure and resources, is poised to amplify the overall operational prowess of the Indian Navy in the island cluster, the official articulated.
The installation is anticipated to extend operational reach and support the Navy’s endeavors in anti-piracy and anti-narcotics operations across the Western Arabian Sea, as affirmed by officials. Simultaneously, it is envisaged to fortify the Indian Navy’s role as the primary responder in the region, bolstering connectivity with the mainland. This naval establishment aligns seamlessly with the Government of India’s emphasis on the holistic development of its islands, the official further underscored.
INS Jatayu, constituting the second naval bastion in Lakshadweep after INS Dweeprakshak in Kavaratti, is poised to fortify the Indian Navy’s presence in the Lakshadweep archipelago. Beyond amplifying operational surveillance, reach, and sustainability, its commissioning heralds a new epoch of capacity building and comprehensive territorial development, elucidated the official.