The second batch of Indian military personnel who left the Maldives on April 9 were soldiers who operated the Dornier aircraft, Adhadhu has learned.
The departure of the second batch of Indian soldiers was first announced by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu during a meeting with Addu city residents on Friday.
"The first team has already gone. Now, on April 9, the soldiers on the second platform have also been withdrawn," Muizzu said.
He added that the soldiers on the last platform would also leave before May 10 and that would mark the fulfillment of his pledge to remove Indian soldiers from Maldives.
Adhadhu has confirmed from a reliable source that the group that left on April 9 included Indian soldiers based in Haa Dhaal Hanimaadhoo for Dornier flights. Civilian or technical personnel brought in their place have since arrived in Hanimaadhoo, the source said.
The Maldives government has not officially disclosed any details on the matter.
According to the government, the official number of Indian soldiers in the Maldives had been 88.
The first batch to leave the country included 26 soldiers based in Addu city, the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) said on March 11, 2024. They left after 26 civilian personnel took over helicopter operations.
India also sent a new helicopter along with the civilians to replace the old helicopter in Addu.
Relations between Maldives and India have deteriorated since Muizzu came to power while closer ties are maintained with China.
