The only human element in the 1,000-odd uninhabited islands and lagoons off the Indian coastline is the fear our intelligence agencies have of these places being used against the nation. Push has come to shove, and the agencies have decided to launch a comprehensive security audit of these territories.
The growth of tourism in some inhabited islands of the Andaman-Nicobar chain and Lakshadweep has boosted development prospects in the two regions, but India’s uninhabited islands are being considered a serious security hazard now. Sources said the government is considering round-the-clock technical surveillance after intelligence inputs indicated that they could be used by foreign outfits against the country.
“An uninhabited island could also be used by smugglers or arms dealers as a safehouse. In order to avoid such activities in its waters, the government wants a foolproof surveillance system in place for all the unmanned islands. Technical intelligence supported by human intelligence will play an important role in conducting periodical aerial scanning of the islands identified as serious maritime security threat,” sources said.
It is learnt that the plan for surveillance will be prepared by intelligence agencies in close coordination with the Indian Navy as well as state agencies. These agencies will also carry out a detailed maritime security study of the coastal areas to plug in the loopholes in the existing security apparatus.