In Wake of India-Pakistan Tensions, CM Devendra Fadnavis Holds High-Level Meeting on State’s Security Preparedness

Mumbai : Amid growing tensions between India and Pakistan, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today chaired a high-level meeting to review the overall security and preparedness across the state. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was also present at the meeting.

A comprehensive discussion took place covering mock drills, blackout protocols, cyber threats, public awareness measures, and social media surveillance targeting anti-national elements. CM Fadnavis issued several key directives to ensure state-wide preparedness on a war footing.

Among the officials present were Acting Chief Secretary Rajesh Kumar, State Director General of Police Rashmi Shukla, Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, Additional DGP (Civil Defence) Prabhat Kumar, Principal Secretary (Home) Radhika Rastogi, Additional IG (Intelligence) Shirish Jain, and District Collectors of Mumbai and Mumbai Suburban.

Key directives issued by CM Fadnavis:
• Conduct mock drills in every district and set up district-level war rooms.
• Coordinate with hospitals during blackouts; use alternative power sources and blackout curtains or tinted glass to prevent light leaks and maintain operational secrecy.
• Disseminate informative videos about blackout protocols to students and citizens. Launch a broad public awareness campaign.
• Study the Union Government’s ‘War Book’ in detail and ensure all relevant authorities are briefed.
• Cyber cells in each district must monitor social media to detect and act against handles supporting Pakistan or spreading misinformation.
• Emergency funds to be released to all district collectors today itself; any additional urgent procurement proposals to be approved within one hour.
• Hold meetings with all municipal corporations in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) to spread awareness about blackout measures, involving cooperative housing societies.
• Police must remain on high alert, increase combing operations and intensify patrolling, considering the possibility of increased anti-national activity.
• Strict action to be taken against individuals capturing and sharing videos of military movement; it is a punishable offence.
• Hire fishing trawlers if necessary to strengthen coastal security.
• Set up a dedicated mechanism to provide citizens with real-time, verified updates.
• Conduct immediate cyber audits of critical infrastructure (e.g., power generation and distribution) to prevent potential cyberattacks.
• For improved coordination, invite heads of the three defence services and Coast Guard to attend the next meeting via video conferencing.
• Cancel all leaves of senior officers in crucial departments like Health, Disaster Management, etc., to ensure round-the-clock readiness.

The government has adopted a war-room approach to preparedness and urged citizens to avoid rumors and rely only on official sources for information.