Mission Ready: Manipuri sailors on board INS Imphal see hope for peace

• Despite violence in Manipur, five sailors from the state serving on INS Imphal express dedication to national duty and hope for peace
• The guided missile destroyer, commissioned on December 26, plays a vital role in addressing challenges in distant seas
•  The warship's crest depicts Imphal’s Kangla Fort and the mythical guardian animal Kangla-Sac

Despite the ongoing turmoil in Manipur, five sailors from the state serving on board INS Imphal, India’s latest stealth destroyer, remain steadfast in their dedication to national duty. The guided missile destroyer, commissioned on December 26 by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, holds special significance for these Manipuri sailors.

Amid ethnic violence in Manipur, the crew, including Sunshine Meetei, Boris Laishram, Oinam Deepak Singh, SR Sheikh, and Simon Singh, expressed hope for peace as they prepare to deploy on the high seas. INS Imphal is equipped to confront challenges in distant seas, addressing concerns such as China’s power play in the Indo-Pacific.

This guided missile destroyer will enable the Indian Navy confront challenges in distant seas including China’s carefully calculated power play for influence in the Indo-Pacific, defending the rules-based international order, the Arabian Sea emerging as a new front with Red Sea tensions escalating and counterpiracy in the Gulf of Aden.