“Save Bitra Island”: MP Hamdullah Sayeed Joins Locals Opposing Defence Acquisition Plan
Tension is brewing in India’s most isolated Union Territory, as residents of Bitra island, the smallest inhabited island in Lakshadweep, rise in protest against the administration’s move to acquire the entire island for defence purposes.
The protests have found political voice in Lakshadweep MP Hamdullah Sayeed, who has openly denounced the plan as “an unjust attempt to displace indigenous people” from land that their ancestors handed down through generations.
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“This land handed over by our ancestors is ours only,” Sayeed wrote in a sharply worded Instagram post, adding that the government’s decision violates both democratic principles and the constitutional rights of the people of Lakshadweep.
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In a formal statement released by his office, Hamdullah Sayeed condemned the July 11 government notification, which proposed the takeover of Bitra island to be handed over to central defence and strategic agencies.
He described the move as “unilateral and undemocratic,” emphasising that the island’s 271 residents, many of whom belong to fishing families, were neither informed nor consulted prior to the announcement.
Sayeed noted that while the central government already possesses land parcels in other islands for defence infrastructure, targeting Bitra—an island with a decades-old permanent population—was both unnecessary and insensitive.
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“Why Bitra? Why now?” he asked, pointing out that there has been no functioning local panchayat in the islands for over a year, making community consultation nearly impossible. He accused the administration of undermining the grassroots democratic framework in the archipelago.
He pledged to raise the matter in Parliament, seek legal redress, and extend support to the residents who have launched a protest campaign against the move.
The growing discontent has spilt onto the streets and social media. In Kochi, Lakshadweep islanders and their supporters staged a protest on July 19, burning a copy of the order and an effigy of Administrator Praful Khoda Patel, who is already a controversial figure in the region.
A digital campaign titled #SaveBitraIsland is gaining traction online, with residents sharing photos, testimonies, and appeals for solidarity. Many fear that the proposed acquisition could result in forced displacement, cultural erasure, and the militarisation of a peaceful island community.
Protesters argue that the island, though small—just 0.57 km long and 0.28 km wide holds immense cultural and emotional value to its people.
Why Does the Government Want Bitra?
The Lakshadweep administration, citing national interest, claims the move is driven by Bitra’s strategic location in the Arabian Sea. As per the July 11 notification, the entire landmass is being proposed for handover to defence agencies due to its importance in surveillance, logistics, and maritime security.
Bitra is located approximately 483 km from Kochi and sits near key international shipping lanes, making it valuable for India’s growing naval infrastructure. If approved, Bitra would become the third defence island in Lakshadweep, after INS Dweeprakshak in Kavaratti and INS Jatayu in Minicoy.
The Lakshadweep administration has issued a notice to acquire the entire land area of Bitra Island for strategic defense purposes. Bitra is one of the 10 inhabited islands in the Lakshadweep.
Residents may lose land & face displacement. This isn’t in the news yet. #Lakshadweep pic.twitter.com/bryTJyTQWQ
— Dinkan (@Dinkan_) July 18, 2025
Defence experts have echoed the island’s strategic value, linking the move to India’s broader efforts to fortify its maritime footprint in the Indian Ocean, especially in the wake of growing Chinese presence in the region.
While security planners frame the acquisition as part of India’s evolving defence doctrine, human rights advocates and political leaders see it as yet another example of “development without consent.”
As per procedure, a Social Impact Assessment is expected to precede any official acquisition. The central government has yet to issue a final approval, but with resistance growing, the proposal could face significant delays or revisions.
