Bitra Island: In a move that has sparked widespread unrest and fear among the local population, the Government of India has issued a formal notification to acquire Bitra Island the smallest and one of the most serene inhabited islands in the Lakshadweep archipelago for strategic military purposes. The notification has triggered strong protests from both residents and political leaders, who accuse the Centre of undermining constitutional rights, displacing indigenous communities, and militarizing a peaceful ecological haven without adequate public consultation.
According to official sources, the Centre’s notification proposes handing over the entire island to India’s defense agencies. The justification cited is national security, especially considering the island’s strategic location in the Arabian Sea. A Social Impact Assessment (SIA) was hastily conducted by the Lakshadweep Revenue Department on July 11, reportedly without the participation of the affected residents. The plan includes seizing both land and surrounding waters, effectively ending the centuries-old native settlement on the island.
Bitra is home to approximately 105 families, most of whom are traditional fisherfolk and coconut farmers. The government’s plan would make it the first fully inhabited Indian island to be completely converted into a defense zone.
Lakshadweep’s lone MP, Muhammed Hamdulla Sayeed, was among the first to sound the alarm. In a strongly worded public statement and video message, he declared:
“This is not just a land acquisition it’s an act of betrayal. These people have lived here for generations. You cannot simply erase their existence for strategic convenience.”
He assured residents that he would challenge the notification politically and legally, calling for immediate suspension of the acquisition until a proper consultation process takes place. Sayeed also warned that similar future actions could threaten other islands, deepening public mistrust and alienation from the mainland administration.
Adding momentum to the opposition, the Lakshadweep Students’ Association issued a sharp critique of the government’s plan. In a press release, they stated:
“Lakshadweep is not a war zone. Turning it into a military base without even a discussion with its people is undemocratic, unethical, and unacceptable.”
They called for nationwide solidarity movements, urging civil society groups, environmentalists, and human rights defenders to raise their voices against what they termed a “silent displacement.”
Environmentalists have raised red flags over the consequences of converting Bitra into a military outpost. The island is part of a fragile coral ecosystem, and any heavy construction or human intrusion could destroy marine life, bird nesting areas, and biodiversity unique to the region.
Cultural historians also noted that the displacement would erase not only a community but also their intangible cultural heritage, including oral histories, traditional fishing methods, and a dialect of Malayalam influenced by island isolation.
This move comes amid growing geopolitical tensions in the Indian Ocean region, where China’s naval presence has intensified. While defense analysts argue that India must bolster its maritime capabilities, critics question whether it must come at the cost of displacing peaceful citizens and undermining democratic norms.
With legal challenges expected, human rights organizations and environmental law experts are preparing to intervene. Protests are likely to intensify in the coming days, as more islanders from across Lakshadweep express solidarity with Bitra’s residents. The issue may also spark parliamentary debate in the Monsoon Session, as opposition MPs gear up to question the government’s “secretive militarization agenda.”
If the notification proceeds unaltered, Bitra could soon become a symbol of India’s growing civil-military conflict over land use, where national security is pitted against indigenous rights, ecological balance, and democratic process.