Navy will ensure India's safety, security: Vice Admiral Luthra

The Navy today reaffirmed its resolve of ensuring the safety and security of the country from any threat originating from the sea.
"We are committed to ensuring safety and security of the country from any challenge or threat originating from sea," Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command, said.
He was interacting with media on board aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya off Mumbai coast, ahead of the Navy Day.
The maritime environment in the Indian Ocean Region is challenging and complex, he said.
"Developments in the region have necessitated high degree of operational and combat readiness. This has led to a very high tempo of operations, including deployments, surveillance and patrolling," he said.

He apprised the media about conduct of Exercise Paschim Leher, where large number of ships, submarines and aircraft participated.

"The exercise was to test and improve our operational readiness, including mobilisation and synchronisation," he said.
He said the ships, submarines and aircraft of the Command continue to be deployed and tasked in widely dispersed and diverse locations at sea to strengthen maritime defence.
Terming the current security situation as "dynamic", Vice Admiral Luthra assured that the Navy is alert, watchful and fully ready to safeguard nation's maritime interests.
Impetus is also being given on strengthening the cyber-security, he said.
The Navy Day is celebrated on December 4, the date on which during the 1971 Indo-Pak conflict, naval ships stealthily manoeuvred close to Karachi and unleashed a lethal missile attack that set the port ablaze and destroyed several enemy warships.