Admiral Mehta calls for eternal vigil to protect arsenals

Kochi, Sep 19 : Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta today said that the country's "adversaries" are resorting to asymmetric form of warfare, targeting arsenals and called for eternal vigil to protect sensitive installations.

"Our adversaries are increasingly resorting to asymmetric forms of warfare and these include attacks on sensitive establishments in peace," he said after inaugurating the Golden Jubilee celebration of Naval Armament Depot at nearby Aluva.

"In these uncertain and turbulent times accentuated by the fragile geopolitical scenario in our neighbourhood, our armament depots need to invest even greater efforts in ensuring the safety and security of our ammunition and explosives," Admiral Mehta added.

Stressing the need to be vigil at all times, he said: "I urge all of you to focus on physical security of our depots as a key result area."

"No precaution is too elaborate and no safeguard is ever too excessive when it comes to ensuring the correct handling and preparation of explosives," said Admiral Mehta, adding that this is the duty of each and every member of the depot because even one weak link is enough to cause a catastrophe.

Preparation of expired explosives for dumping at sea is another key responsibility of our depots and "this is also an area where we must exercise meticulous care," he said.

ANI