Rajasthan CM reviews border preparedness, convenes all-party meet; 10 arrested for suspicious activity
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has called an all-party meeting on Saturday morning even as he reviewed the situation and assessed the state's preparedness amid heightened alert along the International Border (IB) on Friday. Additional precautionary measures have been rolled out across border districts.
On Friday, nine persons were arrested in Jaisalmer for allegedly engaging in suspicious activity near strategically sensitive locations. One person was also arrested in Barmer for sharing videos of army movement on social media, according to police officials.
Chairing a meeting of the Council of Ministers Friday, CM Sharma reviewed the administrative and disaster relief preparations. He directed the ministers in-charge, public representatives and secretaries in-charge to maintain constant contact in their areas and ensure the availability and arrangements of necessary resources as per the requirement. He also urged the public representatives to help reinforce government advisories and prevent the spread of misinformation.
Highlighting the state's extensive border with Pakistan, the CM emphasized the need for heightened vigilance and urged the public to avoid spreading unverified information on social media, relying instead on official sources.
Talking to journalists, Deputy CM Prem Chand Bairwa and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel said all necessary steps to be taken during an emergency, and their preparations, were discussed in the meeting.
Bairwa said that orders have been issued to urgently fill up the vacant posts of Sub-Divisional Officers, Tehsildars, Naib Tehsildars, and officers in electricity, water, health, and medical departments in border districts.
The government has also approved Rs 5 crore each for Barmer, Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Sri Ganganagar districts, and Rs 2.5 crore each for Jodhpur, Hanumangarh and Phalodi by relaxing the rules of the CM Relief Fund. An additional Rs 19 crore has been sanctioned from the disaster management fund for essential equipment.
Extra personnel from the RAC, SDRF, and Home Guard are being deployed to the border districts, as are additional fire brigades and ambulances.
Patel said in the meeting, the CM also issued directions for ensuring adequate availability of food grains, medicines and other essential commodities, apart from giving instructions against organising crowded public programmes in border districts. He said that organisations associated with blood donation camps and regular donors have also been activated.
Meanwhile, the situation in the border districts remains under a close watch, with officials saying that the state police too has increased its vigilance in border areas. Instructions have also been issued to prohibit crowding, loud music, large events, usage of drones, bursting of firecrackers, and recording or sharing any army movement in these districts, where evenings and nights are now being spent in a complete blackout.
In Bikaner, SP Kavendra Singh Sagar has instructed all police stations to hold meetings with the public, especially with intellectuals and eminent citizens, and tell people that, 'blackout is not just darkness, but a security strategy.' An official said that an action plan has been prepared to ensure life continues normally while preparing for any eventuality. Instructions have also been issued to locals to not fly drones.
In Jaisalmer, SP Sudheer Choudhary said that five locals, three persons from Barmer and one from Bihar have been arrested for suspicious activities near important places. These include Dharmnath (21), Jeetu Nath (27), Roopchand (44), Lakhuram (33), Harish Od (19), Manohar Ram (19), Ugram (20), Mohammad Rehmat (22) and one Khetaram Meghwal. Meanwhile, the Jaisalmer district administration on Friday termed the news circulating on social media regarding evacuation of border villages as 'fake and misleading.'
In Barmer, one Jiyaram Meghwal (22), was arrested for recording army movement and sharing it on social media. District Collector Tina Dabi has banned the use of firecrackers and drones. Residents have been instructed to surrender drones to the nearest police station. Restrictions have also been extended to coaching centers and libraries, apart from all educational institutions.
Here, orders have also been issued to shut down the markets by 5 pm, and to follow a complete blackout from 6 pm to 6 am where it will be mandatory to keep lights off and there will be restrictions on vehicular movement.
Meanwhile in Sri Ganganagar, the administration has issued orders prohibiting use of lights, DJ and loud sound equipment post 7 pm. This will remain in effect for the next two months.
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