OPERATION CACTUS
- Operation Cactus was the code name for the Indian intervention in the 1988 coup attempt in the Maldives.
- On November 3, 1988, a group of Maldivian plotters and 80 Lankan fighters arrived in Malé, the capital of the Maldives, aboard a couple of Lankan freighters.
- They were armed with heavy machine guns, AK-47s, grenades and mortars, and quickly captured important infrastructure in the city, including the headquarters of the NSS, the Maldives' sole armed force.
3. A Decade of Coup Attempts
- Maldives, located in the Indian Ocean, faced political instability and economic troubles under the 30-year rule of President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, during which three attempted coups occurred in the 1980s.
- The 1988 coup, the last of the series, would have succeeded without Indian intervention.
- The 1988 coup was orchestrated by Maldivian businessman Abdullah Luthufee and Ahmed "Sagaru" Nasir, with the support of Uma Maheswaran, the leader of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), a militant Lankan Tamil organization.
4. India's Involvement
- As the coup unfolded, SOS messages were sent worldwide. Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi chaired a crisis committee meeting, and the 50th Independent Parachute Brigade, led by Brigadier Farukh Bulsara, was activated in Agra.
- Colonel Subhash C Joshi's 6 Para was designated to lead the operation. Indian soldiers, led by High Commissioner Arun Bannerjee, were quickly dispatched to Maldives.
- Indian troops landed in Hulhulé, Maldives' main airport, and their arrival surprised the rebels.
- Ignorant of the actual strength of the Indian troops, the rebels overestimated their numbers and decided to abandon their mission.
- Indian paratroopers secured the airport and then rescued President Gayoom in Malé.
- Under orders from Brigadier Bulsara, the Indian paratroopers fired at the fleeing rebel ship, slowing it down.
- The Indian Navy, with frigates INS Betwa and INS Godavari, intercepted the ship and rescued hostages before it could enter Sri Lankan territorial waters.
- The attempted coup resulted in the loss of 19 lives, and 68 Sri Lankan fighters and seven Maldivians were arrested and put on trial.
- Four, including Luthufee, were initially sentenced to death but had their sentences commuted at the request of PM Rajiv Gandhi. Indian paratroopers remained in Malé for over a fortnight, establishing a lasting relationship with the Maldives.
5. Conclusion
Operation Cactus remains a significant chapter in the history of India-Maldives relations, a testament to India's willingness to protect its neighbors in times of crisis. Despite occasional strains in the bilateral relationship, the bond forged during this operation continues to shape the diplomatic ties between the two nations.
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For Prelims: Operation Cactus, INS Betwa, INS Godavari, India-Maldives, People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam,
For Mains:
1. Discuss the challenges and opportunities for India in maintaining its influence in the Indian Ocean region? (250 Words)
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Previous Year Questions
1. Which one of the following pairs of islands is separated from each other by the ‘Ten Degree Channel’? (UPSC 2014) (a) Andaman and Nicobar Answer: A 2. Consider the following rivers: (UPSC 2015) 1. Vamsadhara 2. Indravati 3. Pranahita 4. Pennar Which of the above are tributaries of Godavari? A. 1, 2 and 3 B. 2, 3 and 4 C. 1, 2 and 4 D. 2 and 3 only Answer: D 3. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was a Tamil Militant organization that was based in _______. This question was previously asked in (UPRVUNL JE ME 2021) A. Indonesia B. Malesia C. Sri Lanka D. Maldives Answer: C Mains: 1. What do you understand by ‘The String of Pearls’? How does it impact India? Briefly outline the steps taken by India to counter this. (UPSC 2013) 2. Discuss the political developments in the Maldives in the last two years. Should they be of any cause for concern to India? (UPSC 2013) |
