Indian Coast Guard sets up outpost in Lakshadweep

Lakshadweep: Indian defence minister AK Antony inaugurated the most outlying naval outpost of the country in the Minicoy islands in the Arabian Sea, off the Kerala coast, on Friday, and warned that the country could "neglect" the security of the seas only at its own "peril".

"We can neglect the seas only at our peril, as the 2008 terror attacks on Mumbai showed," Antony said. He urged the maritime forces to remain "ever vigilant''.

The minister made his maiden visit to the Lakshadweep and Minicoy islands to inaugurate a Coast Guard station here. He also inaugurated a new Coast Guard district headquarters for Lakshadweep at Kavaratti.

The Kavaratti has been named district headquarters No 12 and will have a number of ships and aircraft such as hovercrafts, fast patrol vessels, interceptor boats, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft under its operational control as a number of planned stations in the region are commissioned.

The ships and aircraft would all be equipped with modern surveillance systems, sensors, weapons and communications equipment.

The two new establishments in the strategically located islands will provide the much-needed teeth to the Coast Guard operations and enhance safety and security of Lakshadweep Islands.