India-Pakistan escalations: Delhi govt cancels leave of all employees amid heightened alert
Delhi govt has cancelled all leave for its employees amid heightened security concerns, directing that no leave shall be granted to any officer or official until further notice. The move comes as part of preparations for an effective emergency response system, following cross-border hostilities.
A high alert was sounded in Delhi, and all city government employees' leaves were cancelled as hostilities escalated between India and Pakistan, with several border areas, including Jammu, coming under cross-border shelling. Strollers at India Gate, the iconic war memorial, were asked to leave, and traffic there was regulated. Police made announcements asking people to vacate the area as a precautionary measure.
The directive states, "In view of the prevailing situation and preparedness for the emergency response system, the Competent Authority has directed that no leave shall be granted to any officer/official of the Government of NCT of Delhi, till further orders."
See Delhi government's official order here:
District magistrates held meetings with their subordinates to assess health and disaster management preparedness in case of any emergency, officials said. "Police will stay alert and remain active. Night vigil has been intensified. We will deploy extra force in every sensitive area," a police officer said.
An official in the New Delhi district said a review meeting was held to evaluate the readiness of the health department and the disaster management apparatus. Another official in East Delhi said quick response mechanisms are being analysed, with efforts to identify operational gaps.
Security measures tightened across Delhi
Security was heightened across the national capital, with additional forces, including paramilitary personnel, deployed at key installations. Police sources said special commissioners in all zones are holding meetings with the deputy commissioners of the 15 districts to coordinate security measures.
The security beef-up comes amid an armed conflict between India and Pakistan. The Pakistani military reportedly attempted to target Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj. The attempts were reportedly foiled, and a Pakistani air defence system was destroyed in Lahore.
Enhanced monitoring at public places
According to officials, vigilance has been increased at malls, markets, metro stations, hotels, residential colonies, airports, and other crowded places. Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Abhishek Dhania, in a statement, said, "As part of ongoing anti-terror measures, the police conducted a thorough security inspection at the Mayur Vihar Phase-1 Metro Station, a vital public installation. During the visit, CISF personnel were briefed, and a focused coordination meeting was held."
"The station is secured with 41 operational CCTV cameras monitoring every critical point. In each shift, 7 male and 2 female CISF personnel remain deployed to ensure robust, round-the-clock security. This will ensure the safety of the commuters," he added.
Anti-sabotage checks intensified
Bomb disposal squads conducted anti-sabotage checks at several locations. "The district's BDS team conducted anti-sabotage checks at malls, markets, hotels, and vital spots to ensure public safety throughout the district. The exercise strengthened vigilance and preparedness against potential threats," DCP (Southwest) Surendra Choudhary said.
Police checks in the city, especially at border areas, have been intensified, with all vehicles entering Delhi being thoroughly checked.
(With inputs from PTI)