PM Modi holds high-level review meeting on national security amid LoC tensions
New Delhi: In the wake of rising tensions along the Line of Control (LoC), Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting on Thursday to assess national preparedness and ensure coordination between ministries and departments amid ongoing security concerns.
The meeting, held in New Delhi, was attended by the Cabinet Secretary, senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), and Secretaries from key ministries including Defence, Home Affairs, External Affairs, Information and Broadcasting, Power, Health, and Telecommunications.
A government press release stated that the Prime Minister emphasised the importance of seamless coordination among ministries and agencies to maintain operational continuity and institutional resilience during this sensitive time. He reviewed the plans and preparedness of ministries to handle the current situation effectively.
Ministries have been directed to carry out a thorough review of their essential functions, with special focus on emergency preparedness, internal communication systems, and overall readiness. Secretaries of various departments presented their action plans and assured the PM of a coordinated, whole-of-government approach.
During the discussion, several critical areas were reviewed, including the strengthening of civil defence mechanisms, countermeasures against misinformation and fake news, and protection of critical infrastructure. Ministries were also instructed to work in close coordination with state governments and grassroots-level institutions to ensure effective implementation on the ground.
The official statement said ministries are equipped to respond to any emerging scenario and are reinforcing systems accordingly.
Prior to the high-level review, PM Modi met National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval at his residence. Sources revealed that the NSA briefed the Prime Minister about the current situation along India’s western border, particularly after Operation Sindoor, and developments in the region. The closed-door meeting lasted nearly an hour.
Following this, the Union Home Secretary also met the Prime Minister to further update him on internal security matters.
These meetings come amid heightened tension in Jammu and Kashmir, where 13 civilians were killed and 59 others injured in heavy shelling by Pakistani forces along the LoC. All fatalities were reported from the Poonch sector. The government has confirmed that these were the result of ceasefire violations.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Odisha: Normalcy returns to violence-hit Malkangiri; internet services fully restored
Malkangiri (PTI): Normalcy returned to Odisha’s Malkangiri district on Monday, nearly a week after around 200 villages were damaged in violent clashes in a village, with the district administration fully restoring internet services, a senior official said.
Additional District Magistrate Bedabar Pradhan said internet services, suspended across the district on December 8 to curb the spread of rumours and misinformation following the clashes, were restored after the situation improved.
The suspension had been extended in phases till 12 noon on Monday.
The administration also withdrew prohibitory orders imposed under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita within a 10-km radius of MV-26 village, where arson incidents were reported on December 7 and December 8.
Though the violence was confined to two villages, tension had gripped the entire district, as the incident took the form of a clash between local tribals and Bengali settlers following the recovery of a headless body of a woman on December 4, officials said.
ALSO READ: Why remove Mahatma Gandhi's name, asks Priyanka on move to replace MGNREGA
The violence broke out after residents of Rakhelguda village allegedly set ablaze several houses belonging to Bengali residents, forcing hundreds to flee. The headless body of Lake Podiami (51), a woman from the Koya tribe, was recovered from the banks of the Poteru river on December 4, while her head was found six days later at a location about 15 km away.
Officials said the district administration held several rounds of discussions with representatives of the tribal and Bengali communities, following which both sides agreed to maintain peace.
Relief and rehabilitation work has since been launched at MV-26 village, with preliminary assessment pegging property damage at around Rs 3.8 crore.
A two-member ministerial team headed by Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo visited the affected village, interacted with officials and locals, and submitted a report to the chief minister.
So far, 18 people have been arrested in connection with the violence, the officials said, adding that despite the withdrawal of prohibitory orders and restoration of internet services, security forces, including BSF and CRPF personnel, continue to be deployed to prevent any untoward incident.
On Sunday, Nabarangpur MP Balabhadra Majhi visited MV-26 and neighbouring Rakhelguda villages, and held discussions with members of both communities as part of efforts to rebuild confidence and restore peace.
More than two lakh Bengali-speaking Bangladeshis were rehabilitated by the Centre in Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts in 1968, and they currently reside in 124 villages of Malkangiri.
