Operation Cactus: How India helped the Maldives in November 1988

New Delhi: More than three many years in the past, this week, India had launched Operation Cactus, an operation to assist the Maldives because the nation confronted its greatest challenge–a coup launched by mercenaries. The operation endlessly etched in India-Maldives historical past of shut cooperation exhibits how Indian Navy performed a major function, particularly in terms of safety and stability of the Indian Ocean area. 

32 years in the past, on the intervening evening of November 2-3, 1988 round 200-300 armed mercenaries landed within the nation’s capital capturing key installations. The then-president of Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom had requested for assist from India and the then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Indian Army’s para brigade introduced on IL 76 instantly introduced issues underneath management within the Indian Ocean island however it was the mid-ocean chase and rescue that was essentially the most difficult a part of the operation. The mercenaries, led by the chief Abdulla Luthufee fled on vessel MV Progress mild together with hostages together with a Maldivian govt minister. Indian navy ship–training ship Tir and Frigate Godavari have been diverted to the nation. The commanding officer of Godavari was the CTF– Commander Task Force.

Other than them, Indian Navy ships Betwa, Rajput, Ranjit, Gomati, Trishul, Nilgiri, Kumbhir, Cheetah and fleet tanker Deepak have been additionally sailed in direction of the Maldives. 24×7 maritime reconnaissance plane (MR) air-patrols commenced.

Soon after midnight of November 5-6, MV Progress mild was given a remaining warning however no heed was paid by the fleeing mercenaries. The four inches, 57 mm and 30 mm weapons of Godavari and Betwa then raked the vessel, inflicting an enormous hearth. A Naval boarding celebration introduced the hostages to INS Godavari and apprehended the mercenaries. MV Progress mild sank on November 7, 56 miles south-west of Colombo.

New Delhi was carefully monitoring the scenario and on the battle room at a message reached the Prime Minister that learn: “ALL HOSTAGES RESCUED. MERCENARIES CAPTURED” bringing a sigh of aid to many in each the international locations. On November 8, recused hostages have been handed over to president Gayoom in a proper ceremony.

The developments had a worldwide impression, with TIME journal cowl of April 3, 1989, that includes INS Godavari with a caption “Super India–The Next Military power”. Leaders of the US and UK had additionally lauded New Delhi’s function.

One of the impacts of the event was shut alignment on the safety understanding between Indian and Maldives. India has been serving to in capability and functionality growth of the Maldivian armed forces and since then 1000’s of Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF) personnel have been skilled in India. 

It will probably be attention-grabbing to know, the current Chief of Defence Force of MNDF, Major General Abdulla Shamaal, is a graduate of DSSC, Wellington (Tamil Nadu), whereas his predecessors have been graduates of NDC, New Delhi. 

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The invasion by mercenaries on 3 November 1988 additionally prompted the Maldives to reinforce their maritime surveillance capabilities. For this Indian Government supplied MNDF with ships, autos, helicopters, coastal radars, arms, ammunition and earlier this yr, a Dornier maritime surveillance plane.

To keep in mind the occasion within the nation’s historical past, yearly on November Three MNDF personnel mark Nasruge Dhuvas or ‘Victory Day’ and keep in mind their fallen comrades at a particular memorial the place an RPG–rocket-propelled grenade was fired by the mercenaries breaching the MNDF HQ in Bandaara Koshi, Male in 1988.