Kerala - Kochi   

Navy Chief lauds use of missile boats in '71 war

Staff Reporter

INS Chatak hauled up to parade ground

KOCHI : Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sureesh Mehta has lauded the innovative use of missile boats to set the Karachi harbour on fire during the 1971 war with Pakistan.

Speaking to presspersons after inaugurating the Chatak Memorial (INS Chatak was a missile boat that was decommissioned in 2003) at the Navy parade ground here on Friday, he said that missile boats were not supposed to be used for warfare at such far a distance in the oceans. "They were towed by bigger vessels up to Karachi and then ordered to repeatedly attack the harbour. People said that Karachi was burning, referring to oil installations being destroyed in the bombardment. Such missile boats did the country proud in the 1971 war," he said.

The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) had proposed to set up a warship museum off Marine Drive and the Navy offered INS Chatak. With the museum getting caught in red tape, the Navy decided to resurrect the ship on the ground as a memorial. The project was executed by the Naval Ship Repair Yard.

The Russian-built vessel was commissioned into the Navy in 1977.

Admiral Mehta said that Indians were not good at preserving history and maintaining historical records. "Now, efforts are on to create awareness among civilians about Naval history. Such memorials should be easily accessible to people. The submarine that has been put up as a museum in Vishakapatnam, has become a big hit with the people there." To a question on Indian Ocean becoming a hub for terrorist activities, he said to counter this we need to build linkages with navies in the neighbourhood and share intelligence inputs. "The 1,197 islands that dot the country's coast can be possible launch pads for terrorist attacks. But our forces are geared up to thwart such attacks," he said.

He said that 33 warships and six submarines were in different stages of construction.

Delayed response

Referring to the allegations that the Navy sent its team of divers six hours after the boat accident in Bhoothathankettu reservoir, he said there was delay in information about the accident trickling in.

"We have quick-reaction teams in all Naval Bases. Our helicopters can land anywhere, and render quick assistance. The Navy was quick to assist neighbouring countries that were hit by the tsunami."

The statement comes in the wake of the District Administration, local people and a couple of Ministers blaming the Navy for reaching the accident site much after the bodies of children and teachers were fished out by local people.

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