Page 2 - Home Ministry

As India-Pak border heats up, here's all you need to know about blackouts

Due to the escalation by Pakistan, several border towns were plunged into darkness as authorities enforced blackouts as a tactical defensive move

Shah calls meet of CMs, DGPs, chief secys of Pak, Nepal border states

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday called an urgent meeting of chief ministers, chief secretaries and DGPs of states having borders with Pakistan and Nepal. The meeting has been called in the wake of the strikes carried out by the Indian armed forces on terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir as a retaliatory action against the Pahalgam terror attack, sources said. They said the meeting, to be held through video conferencing, will be attended by chief ministers, chief secretaries and Director General of Police of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Sikkim and West Bengal, besides Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh. The home minister has already directed chiefs of all Central Armed Police Forces to call back their personnel who are on leave, they said. According to sources, Shah also reviewed the internal security situation in the country and asked the top security officials to be on alert and keep strict .

Chennai, Kalpakkam civil defence drill today: What residents should expect

The mock drill will include air-raid siren tests, blackout simulations, mock evacuations, and emergency rescue operations

Union home secretary to review preparations for civil defence mock drills

Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan will on Tuesday review the preparations for strengthening civil defence mechanisms that include conducting mock drills on air-raid warning sirens, training civilians to protect themselves in the event of a "hostile attack" and cleaning bunkers and trenches. The Ministry of Home Affairs has asked all states to conduct mock drills on Wednesday, given the "new and complex threats" that have emerged amid rising tensions with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack. "The home secretary will review the preparations for civil defence being made across 244 districts. Chief secretaries and heads of civil defence from across the country will participate in the meeting via video conferencing," a source said. According to a home ministry communication, the measures to be taken during the mock drills include the operationalisation of air-raid warning sirens, training civilians on civil-defence aspects to protect themselves in the event of a "hostile attack

Amit Shah sets ₹2 trn export target for NCEL, reviews national coop bodies

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Saturday directed the National Cooperative Exports Ltd (NCEL) to work towards an ambitious export target of Rs 2 lakh crore and identify three specific products not currently being exported from India. Chairing a high-level review meeting in the national capital to evaluate the progress of three national cooperative institutions created in 2023, Shah instructed NCEL to explore new export opportunities for sugar from cooperative mills, aromatic rice from Tripura, organic cotton, and coarse grains. The Union Minister also suggested partnerships with large companies for export of fresh vegetables to Gulf countries and special potato varieties, while recommending NCEL establish offices in Africa and Myanmar specifically for pulses import. "The minister has suggested establishing NCEL offices in Africa and Myanmar specifically for pulses imports and developing a dedicated website for cooperative members," according to an official ...

DRG jawan injured in IED blast during anti-Naxal operation in Chhattisgarh

A District Reserve Guard (DRG) jawan was injured on Saturday when a pressure improvised explosive device (IED) planted by Naxalites went off in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district where a massive operation against Maoists was underway for the last six days. The operation involving about 10,000 security personnel in a hilly region Karreguta, Durgamgutta and Pujarikanker along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border was launched on Monday, a senior official said. A DRG jawan sustained a minor injury when a pressure IED exploded this morning, he said. "The injured jawan was administered treatment at a camp of security forces and his condition was stated to be out of danger. He would be in a position for active duty very soon," the official said. Another jawan belonging to the Special Task Force (STF) had sustained a minor sprain on ankle due to impact of an IED blast on April 24 morning during the operation, he said, adding that his condition was normal and he has recovered. Talking to ...

Raj CM asks officials to ensure exit of Pakistanis by Centre's deadline

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Friday instructed police and administrative officers to strictly implement the guidelines issued by the central government regarding the cancellation of visas for Pakistani nationals in the wake of the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 tourists. The chief minister held a discussion with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and assured that the directions concerning Pakistani nationals' visas would be rigorously enforced in the state. Following this, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Anand Kumar convened a meeting of senior officials at the Secretariat. The meeting was attended by Director General of Police UR Sahoo, DG CID Security Sanjay Agrawal, Additional Secretary of Home Department Sovila Mathur and other officials. District Collectors and SP participated in the meeting via video conference. The Pakistani nationals have to be sent from the Attari border. Additional Chief Secretary (Home) directed the concerned SPs to ensure that Pakistani ..

Delhi govt ensuring no Pakistani stays beyond deadline: CM Rekha Gupta

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday said the Delhi government is ensuring strict compliance with the Centre's order to ensure that no Pakistani stays in India beyond the deadline set for them to leave the country. India announced on Thursday that all visas issued to Pakistani nationals will be revoked from April 27 and advised Indian nationals residing in Pakistan to return home at the earliest, as tensions between the two countries escalated over the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists, on April 22. According to sources, the home minister personally called up the chief ministers of all states and asked them to ensure that no Pakistani stays in India beyond the deadline. "The Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India, has revoked all Visas issued to Pakistani Nationals, except Medical, Diplomatic & Long-Term visas, with effect from 27th of April, 2025," Gupta said in a post on X. "The existing medical visas shall also stand invalid after 29th of April, ...

Meitei group claims not being allowed to visit sacred site, writes to MHA

A group representing the Meiteis has written a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah claiming that they are not being allowed to visit the Thangjing Hill, a sacred place for the community in Manipur, and has sought the Centre's intervention. In the letter, Meitei Heritage Welfare Foundation has alleged that there is a blockade and threats are being issued by "Chin-Kuki militants and civil society groups" to the Meitei pilgrims who want to visit the site. "Thangjing Hill holds immense religious and cultural significance for the Meitei community, which has conducted annual pilgrimages there since time immemorial to worship Ibudhou Thangjing, the guardian deity of southern Kangleipak (Manipur). The current blockade is a blatant violation of our constitutional rights and a direct assault on our heritage," the group said. "The latest threat to pilgrims at the sacred Thangjing Hill is not merely a law-and-order issue but a deliberate provocation aimed at inciting unrest among the Meiteis," it

Cooperative movement suffered due to policy inaction in past: Amit Shah

In a veiled swipe at previous Congress-led governments, Union minister Amit Shah said on Sunday that the cooperative movement had remained in shambles as laws were not tweaked for years and "almost died" until the Modi government took decisive action. Addressing a state-level cooperative conference in Bhopal, Shah said the erstwhile governments never considered bolstering the cooperative sector. On the occasion, an agreement was signed between the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and Madhya Pradesh State Co-operative Dairy Federation to enhance milk production in the state. "For years, the cooperative movement was moving slowly and turned almost dead. Looking at the cooperative movement nationwide, it was uneven (in the past)," he said. Highlighting the challenges, Shah said the cooperative movement had remained in shambles as laws were not tweaked accordingly. He said the movement gained traction only after 75 years of independence when Prime Minister Narendra Modi formed

Amit Shah begins three-day tour of J-K, holds meeting with BJP MLAs

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who reached Jammu on Sunday to commence his three-day Jammu and Kashmir tour, held a closed-door meeting with BJP MLAs and office-bearers. This is Shah's first visit to the Union Territory after the formation of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah-led National Conference government in October. The visit also holds significance in the wake of a massive anti-terrorist operation currently underway in Kathua district. Shah, who landed in Jammu around 6:50 pm, was received by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Union minister Jitendra Singh, and other BJP leaders, including its Jammu and Kashmir unit chief Sat Sharma and national general secretary in-charge Jammu and Kashmir Tarun Chugh. Former state chief Ravinder Raina and ex-deputy chief ministers Kavinder Gupta and Nirmal Singh were also present. Shah was escorted to the Raj Bhavan and later visited the BJP headquarters at Trikuta Nagar to chair a meeting of party MLAs and other office-bearers, officials ...

Kuki Zo groups set up 3 pre-conditions ahead of April 5 talks in Delhi

Ahead of the April 5 talks between Kuki Zo and Meitei groups called by the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi, the Kuki leadership based in Manipur's Kangpokpi district has set up three pre-conditions including no cross movement between Meitei and Kukis in the areas where the other community is in majority. Kuki Zo Council (KZC) chairman Henlianthang Thanglet said the three conditions were set up during a consultation meet organised at Kangpokpi by the Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) on Tuesday. Thanglet said the three pre-conditions are "the movement of Meitei individuals in Kuki-Zo-dominated areas and vice versa shall be strictly restricted, hostilities shall be halted for a minimum period of six months to facilitate negotiations, a structured formal and meaningful dialogue process must be initiated during the ceasefire period." A functionary of the Kuki Zo Council said the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has called for a meeting between the Kuki Zo and Meitei groups in New Del

Amit Shah unveils schemes, projects worth over Rs 800 crore in Bihar

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday unveiled schemes and laid the foundation stones for projects, worth over Rs 800 crore, in Bihar on the occasion of International Cooperative Day. Shah launched schemes, comprising Rs 111 crore from the cooperative department and Rs 421 crore from the urban development and housing department. He also laid the foundation stones for 133 police buildings, costing Rs 181 crore, and three road transport and national highway projects worth Rs 109 crore. Shah also remotely inaugurated a makhana processing unit at the Fishermen's Cooperative Society in Darbhanga district. He distributed micro ATMs to bank mitras' of the Bihar State Cooperative Bank at the state-level conference attended by representatives from primary agriculture cooperatives and other cooperative societies. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, several Union and state ministers and senior officials were present on the ...

Afspa lifted from Dibrugarh, only 3 Assam districts remain under it

The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has been withdrawn from Assam's Dibrugarh district, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Thursday. Addressing a press conference, Sarma said it is now in force in only three districts of the state. The law empowers security forces to conduct operations anywhere and arrest anyone without a prior warrant. It also gives a certain level of immunity to the security forces if an operation goes wrong. "We had requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to lift the disturbed areas tag from Dibrugarh as we are planning to develop it as the second capital of the state," Sarma said. He heard our request and a notification has been issued by the Centre in this regard, he said. "AFSPA will now be in force in Tinsukia, Sivasagar and Charaideo districts," the CM said. "The AFSPA has been withdrawn from 32 districts of the state and we hope that it will be soon withdrawn from the remaining three districts as well," he added. The state was declared a

Assam Rifles Raising Day 2025: What is it and why is it celebrated today?

Assam Rifles, one of the oldest paramilitary forces in India, is celebrating 190th Raising Day today. The force is responsible for border security, counter-insurgency, and maintaining law and order

'12 peace accords signed, 10.9K youth gave up arms in Northeast': Amit Shah

Compared to 2014, there has been a 71 per cent reduction in insurgency incidents, 60 per cent in Security Forces casualties and 82 per cent in Civilian deaths in 2023, according to a press release

Modi govt moving ahead with ruthless approach against Naxalites: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said the security forces have achieved another big success in its march to make the country Naxal-free by killing 22 members of the CPI (Maoists) in Chhattisgarh. Shah also said the Narendra Modi government is moving forward with a ruthless approach against the Naxalites, and adopting a zero tolerance policy against those extremists who are not surrendering despite all the facilities being offered. "Today our soldiers have achieved another big success in the direction of a 'Naxal Mukt Bharat Abhiyan'. Twenty-two Naxalites were killed in two separate operations by our security forces at Bijapur and Kanker in Chhattisgarh. "The Modi government is moving forward with a ruthless approach against Naxalites and is adopting a zero tolerance policy against those Naxalites who are not surrendering despite all the facilities being offered to them, ranging from surrender to inclusion. The country is going to be Naxal-free by March 31 next year," Shah .

Amit Shah likely to visit West Bengal on March 29-30, says Sukanta Majumdar

Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah was on a visit three-day visit to Assam where he inaugurated several projects

Amit Shah to chair meet with CMs of Northeast states to review BNS rollout

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair a meeting with chief ministers of the Northeastern states on Sunday to review the implementation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC), in the region, officials said. Shah spent the Saturday night in Mizoram where he attended a programme of the Assam Rifles. He will start the day with a visit to Kokrajhar where is scheduled to address the 57th annual conference of the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU). ABSU was a signatory to the historic Bodo Peace Accord, which was signed five years ago. Shah will reach Guwahati in the afternoon to chair the meeting with the CMs of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Nagaland and Sikkim. It was not immediately known who would represent Manipur in the meeting with the state being under the President's rule following the resignation of CM N Biren Singh last month. A presentation by each state will be given at the meeting on the progress made in the

Kuki-Zo Council ends shutdown in Manipur, opposes free movement plan

The Kuki-Zo Council in Manipur on Thursday lifted the indefinite shutdown in the hill areas imposed since March 9 midnight, but remains firm in opposing the free movement announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the council said in a statement. "While the shutdown has been lifted from Thursday evening, it is imperative to clarify that the free movement, as announced by the Home Ministry, shall be vehemently opposed by the Kuki-Zo people, as it undermines and dilutes the justice process," the statement read. On March 1, Shah had directed security forces to ensure free movement of people on all routes in Manipur from March 8 and also called for strict action against those creating obstructions. There has been an indefinite shutdown in Kuki-Zo areas since Saturday after a youth died and over 40 were injured after protestors clashed with security forces in Kangpokpi district while trying to prevent the movement of a bus from Imphal through their zone. Reaffirming its demand for a ..