Ross, Neil and Havelock islands in Andaman to be renamed

Ross, Neil and Havelock Islands in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago will be renamed as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island, Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep, respectively.

According to reports, the government has decided to rename the islands to mark the 75th anniversary of freedom fighter Subhash Chandra Bose hoisting the national flag at Port Blair.



The renaming is likely to be announced during the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Port Blair on December 30.

A flag hoisting ceremony will also be organised to mark the 75th anniversary of Subhas Chandra Bose's declaration of the formation of the Azad Hind government in 1943. Home Minister Rajanth Singh will also attend the function.

Bose had hoisted the flag at Port Blair on December 30, 1943, as he believed that Port Blair was the first territory to be freed from British rule. This was done after the Japenese captured that area during the time of the Second World War.

Bose had reportedly suggested back then that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands be renamed as Shahid and Swaraj dweep.

(Inputs from ANI)