Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has cancelled the leaves of Collectors, Revenue Divisional Commissioners (RDCs), and IPS officers amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.
Citing war-like conditions in western India, a notification from the General Administration & P.G Department, issued on Friday, canceled all previously approved leaves for RDCs and Collectors & DMs. Those currently on leave have been asked to return to their headquarters and resume duties immediately.
No new leaves will be granted during this period, the notification added.
The Odisha Home Department has also canceled the leaves of IPS officers until further notice, prohibiting them from leaving their headquarters without prior approval from the concerned DG/Special DG.
This came amid Pakistan’s continued escalation along the western front through drone incursions and munitions. “Today at approximately 0500 hrs, multiple armed enemy drones were detected over Khasa Cantt, Amritsar. Our air defence units responded swiftly, intercepting and neutralising all hostile UAVs. This blatant attempt to violate India’s sovereignty and endanger civilian lives is unacceptable,” the Ministry of Defence posted on X.
On Friday, Pakistani drones were sighted at 26 locations ranging from Baramulla in the north to Bhuj in the south, along both the IB and the LOC. These included suspected armed drones posing potential threats to civilian and military targets.
The tensions stem from a militant attack on April 22 in Baisaran valley, Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 tourists, including a Nepalese citizen, were killed. In response, Indian armed forces launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ on May 6, conducting precision strikes on nine terrorist camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan.
