Indian Navy deploys maritime surveillance aircraft in Maldives

The Indian Navy has deployed a Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft in Maldives for carrying out anti-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean Region. The aircraft is being sent from the Kochi-based Indian Naval Air Squadron 550 and will be stationed at Male for three weeks to keep a watch over the Exclusive Economic Zone of that country, Navy officials said here today. The deployment of Indian surveillance aircraft in Maldives comes days after Defence Minister A K Antony said that the Navy was mandated to be a net security provider for island nations in the Indian Ocean Region. Earlier this year, during Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed\'s visit here, the two countries had discussed ways to intensify anti-piracy cooperation and decided to scale up bilateral trade and investment. India has also deployed a Dornier aircraft along with a few choppers in the Seychelles to carry out the fight against sea pirates, who have been operating far away from the coast of Somalia.