Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday asked naval commanders to ensure maritime security in the Indian Ocean, which has become a region of high economic activity. Addressing top naval officers at the Commanders Conference here, Parrikar also complimented the force for ensuring greater women participation in the force, a day after Navy announced that seven women officers of Short Service Commission batch of 2008-09 have been granted permanent commission. “My point was very clear. The Indian Ocean region is becoming a region of high activity, not necessarily activity that are a risk to our security but they could become a risk,” he said.