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NEW DELHI, SEP 8: The Indian and Chinese armies held their first high-level commanders’ flag talks in two sessions on both sides of the frontier in the Arunachal Pradesh sector this week in line with the outcome reached at last month’s Special Representatives dialogue in Beijing, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval had held the Special Representatives (SR) talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that focused on delimitation of the frontier and sustaining work on trans-boundary cooperation as well as to maintain peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Senior Highest Military Commander-Level Flag Meeting was held at Wacha on the Indian side in Arunachal Pradesh on September 6 and Damai on the Chinese side on September 7. The talks were held amid reports of aggressive military posturing by Chinese troops along the LAC in Upper Subansiri region of Arunachal Pradesh. “Pursuant to the understandings reached between the Special Representatives of India and China in August 2025 and August 2026, and subsequent discussions at the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination meetings held in Beijing and New Delhi in May and August 2026 respectively, the first Senior Highest Military Commander-Level Flag Meeting was held at Wacha on the Indian side in Arunachal Pradesh on September 6 and Damai on the Chinese side on September 7,” Jaiswal said at his weekly media briefing. “A similar mechanism also exists in the Western Sector,” he said. Jaiswal also said that ties between India and China are gradually moving towards “positive direction”. In his remarks at the SR meeting, Doval said that normalcy in the ties has been a direct result of both sides maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas. The Indian side highlighted the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas for the continued development and progress of the bilateral relationship, the MEA had said on the SR talks. Both Doval and Wang are the designated SRs for the boundary talks mechanism, which was established in 2003 to comprehensively address the dispute of the India-China border spanning 3,488 km. In the last few months, the two sides have taken a series of measures to rebuild their relationship after it came under severe strain following the deadly Galwan Valley clashes in 2020. The high-level military talks were held days ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to India to attend the BRICS summit. Xi is likely to land in New Delhi on Saturday. (Source: PTI)        

NEW DELHI, SEP 7: The Indian and Chinese armies reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Arunachal Pradesh sector, days after the two sides held Special Representative talks in Beijing on the festering boundary question. The focus of the corps commander-level talks at the Wacha-Damai border meeting point in Arunachal Pradesh’s Kibithoo region on Sunday was to maintain peace and tranquillity along the frontier, people familiar with the matter said. The Indian delegation was headed by Lt General Girish Kalia, the commander of the Army’s Dimapur-based 3 Corps. There is no official word yet on the talks. The meeting also came amid reports of aggressive military posturing by Chinese troops along the LAC in the Upper Subansiri region of Arunachal Pradesh. In the Special Representative (SR) talks on August 25, India conveyed to China the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity along the frontier for overall bilateral ties. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval held the SR talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi which focused on delimitation of the frontier and sustaining work on trans-boundary cooperation. In his remarks at the meeting, Doval said that normalcy in the ties has been a direct result of both sides maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas. The Indian side highlighted the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas for the continued development and progress of the bilateral relationship, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said on the SR talks. Both Doval and Wang are the designated SRs for the boundary talks mechanism, which was established in 2003 to comprehensively address the dispute over the India-China border spanning 3,488 km. In the last few months, the two sides have taken a series of measures to rebuild their relationship after it came under severe strain following the deadly Galwan Valley clashes in 2020. (Source: PTI)    

NEW DELHI, SEP 7: The North East Sports Association (NESA) has urged the Centre to extend support for the successful hosting of the 4th North East Games in Arunachal Pradesh, highlighting the event’s importance in promoting sports, talent identification and athlete development in the region. A NESA delegation led by Meghalaya State Olympic Association Working President and NESA Secretary General John F Kharshiing met NITI Aayog Member Dr Smt Joram Aniya in New Delhi and discussed sports and youth development in the North Eastern Region. The delegation sought support from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) for the upcoming Games. It emphasised that the event would provide an important platform for young athletes from the region to compete, identify talent and pursue further development. During the hour-long interaction, the delegation also shared experiences from various northeastern states on sports hostels, district indoor stadiums, coaching, talent identification, mandatory tournaments, sports leagues, youth affairs programmes and measures to strengthen the regional sports ecosystem. NESA also appreciated the enhanced national sports budget in the context of the Commonwealth Games 2030 and India’s bid for the 2036 Olympic Games. The delegation and the NITI Aayog Member also discussed the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, including its vision of promoting regional sporting competitions across the country. Recognising the sporting potential of the Northeast, Joram Aniya said she proposed to visit the northeastern states to understand the challenges on the ground and make suitable recommendations for the development of sports and youth in the region. The delegation comprised Mizoram Olympic Association Secretary General V Lalzawmliana, Nagaland Olympic Association Joint Secretary N Kathsu, Arunachal Olympic Association Secretary General and NESA Coordinator Bamang Tago, and Arunachal Olympic Association Treasurer Tai Hipik.    

NEW DELHI, SEP 6: The Congress on Sunday attacked the Modi government after a building housing a boys’ PG collapsed in southwest Delhi’s Satya Niketan area, with Rahul Gandhi asserting that every student’s life is precious and their protection must be ensured under all circumstances. The five-storey building collapsed this afternoon, leaving one dead and several people trapped under the debris, officials said. The area is close to the heart of Delhi University’s South Campus and has congested lanes lined with student hostels and eateries. In a post on X in Hindi, Gandhi said, “The news of the building collapse in Satya Niketan, Delhi, is extremely heartbreaking and alarming. Reports indicate that several people are trapped under the debris, including many students from Delhi University.” “My appeal is that NDRF, Delhi Fire Service, and all rescue teams reach every single student by making every possible effort, ensuring that the injured receive the best possible immediate treatment, so that no effort is spared in saving anyone,” he said. Congress and NSUI workers are present at the scene and are ready to provide every possible assistance, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha said. “In this hour of difficulty, we all stand with the victims and their families. Students’ lives were already filled with struggles, now the situation has turned life-threatening. “Due to the lack of good hostels in colleges or universities, students are forced to live in PG accommodations, 40-40 at a time under one roof, in inhumane conditions. Every student’s life is precious, and their protection must be ensured under all circumstances,” Gandhi said. Senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said just a day ago, PM Modi was at Delhi University’s SRCC for a carefully staged spectacle, celebrating the university and speaking of its students and today, at Satya Niketan in South Campus, DU students are trapped under the rubble of an unsafe PG building. “If the PM truly considers himself a DU student, perhaps he should ask why building safety audits failed the very students who need the Government’s protection most,” Singhvi said on X. Congress treasurer Ajay Maken said he stands with the families who have lost someone, and those whose loved ones are still trapped in that building. “Just this year, on May 30, the building that collapsed in Saidulajab had students preparing for exams among those who died. Therefore, the Delhi Municipal Corporation must disclose how many of the buildings around both DU campuses running PG accommodations have undergone safety inspections, and what issues were found in which buildings. This list must be made public building by building,” Maken said in a post in Hindi on X. A child who has left home to come study has the right to know whether the building in which he is sleeping will still be standing by morning or not, he said. Delhi Congress chief Devendra Yadav said the news of the PG building collapse at the South Campus (Saty Niketan) of Delhi University and students being trapped under the debris is deeply disturbing and raises serious questions about the government’s policies. “Young people come to Delhi from across the country with dreams of a bright future, but is no one responsible for their safety? Prime Minister ji, merely delivering speeches at DU won’t suffice; in the country’s capital, the lives and safety of our students must be the topmost priority,” he said. NSUI chief Vinod Jakhar claimed that the administration arrived nearly two hours after the incident. “As soon as we received the information, the NSUI team jumped into action to pull the students out from under the debris. While the students were struggling between life and death, both the preparedness and sensitivity of the Delhi administration were nowhere to be found,” he said. How long will this tampering with the safety of innocent students continue, Jakhar asked. Accountability must be fixed for the negligence of the Delhi administration, he said. Congress MP Rajeev Shukla said he was deeply saddened by the tragic building collapse. “My thoughts and prayers are with those affected and their families. I pray for the safety of those feared trapped and for their swift rescue. May every life be saved,” Shukla said on X. According to a police officer, local police staff, fire brigade, CAT Ambulance and other emergency services are present at the spot. The NDRF team has also reached, and rescue and relief operations are underway, the officer said. A PCR call was received at South Campus police station at 1.34 pm regarding the collapse of a building near Nanakpura Gurdwara, police said in a statement. The police said they have identified the building’s owner and have formed teams to trace him. According to officials, the collapsed building was known as ‘Hostel Daze’. (Source: PTI)    

PANAJI, SEP 6: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s objective that drug-free youth power will lead to Viksit Bharat in 2047, and asserted the Union government has prepared a roadmap to make India drug-free by 2029. The Modi government is committed to making the country drug-free to realise the dream of a developed India, just as it has worked to end the menace of Naxalism and terrorism, Shah said. The Centre has adopted a coordinated, nationwide strategy to dismantle the entire narcotics network, from drug trafficking and financing to rehabilitation, as part of its goal of ‘Drug-Free India’ by 2029, he said. “It is Narendra Modi’s objective that drug-free youth power will lead to Viksit Bharat in 2047,” Shah said while addressing a press conference after chairing a high level meeting on narcotics that was attended by Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant as well as MHA and state government officials. “Before 2014, the fight against narcotics was largely conducted in small units and isolation. Agencies were often satisfied catching small time accused. Our government is making the fight national security priority,” he said. In 2019, a four-tier National Coordination Committee for Countering Drug Trafficking (NCORD) mechanism was created at the executive, state and district levels to ensure coordinated action against the drug menace. “Dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Forces (ANTFs) have been constituted in all states and Union Territories and local police have been linked with the national strategy,” Shah said. He said a Joint Coordination Committee was also formed in 2019 to enable central agencies and state governments to take joint decisions against major drug networks, their international connections and operational gaps. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has been strengthened by reorganising its cadre and enhancing its manpower, zonal presence and operational capabilities, Shah said while emphasising that the fight against drugs was not just limited to enforcement. The government has linked awareness, treatment, counselling, rehabilitation and livelihood opportunities with the anti-narcotics campaign, he pointed out, adding that the 1933 MANAS helpline has been introduced to support persons with drug addiction. The government is committed to achieving the goal of ‘Drug-Free India 2029’ through political will, coordinated enforcement and measures aimed at preventing addiction and rehabilitating victims, he said. The Modi government’s three-year roadmap to a drug-free India is based on a four-pillared approach to destroy narcotic networks, Shah said. “These pillars include intelligence and operation-based enforcement, control on synthetic drugs, demand and harm reduction and creation of capacity and coordination,” he explained. Under the Narendra Modi regime, Jammu and Kashmir is on the path to progress and development after the decline of terrorism, which is gradually approaching zero there, he said. The sentiment of separatism has lessened since the abrogation of Article 370, Shah said. The Modi government’s broader internal security strategy had succeeded in addressing three long-standing challenges — terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, insurgency in the Northeast and Left-Wing Extremism, Shah said. “The Modi government has taken various steps to improve and strengthen internal security. Those who dreamt of a ‘red’ (Maoist) corridor from Tirupati to Pashupati have laid down arms and joined the mainstream,” he said. Referring to the Northeast, Shah said 14 major peace agreements had been signed since 2019 and around 11,000 armed youths had laid down their weapons and joined the mainstream. He said India ended the nearly six-decade-old challenge of Left-Wing Extremism on March 31, 2026, through a coordinated strategy combining security, development and trust. “We have eradicated Naxalism and will deal with menace of narcotics in the same manner,” the Union minister asserted. Shah said the Centre has a target to demolish 100 national and international networks by March 2029 and bring back 100 fugitives to the country. By March 2027, there will be clear end-to-end visibility of the supply chain while at least 75 secret labs would be destroyed in 2026, he said. He said the government had also adopted a mission-mode approach to bring back fugitives hiding abroad. Between July 2019 and July 2026, as many as 274 wanted or absconding criminals were brought back to India from 36 countries, he said. Over the past three years, 401 Red Corner Notices have been issued, including 182 up to July 2026, Shah said. He said more than 1,400 Central and state agencies were connected through Interpol, facilitating faster information sharing. Between 2019 and 2026, assets worth Rs 17,874 crore belonging to fugitives were attached, while Rs 18,762 crore was recovered or restored, Shah informed. Shah also highlighted the government’s efforts against cybercrime, saying the cyber system had helped save more than Rs 11,158 crore across 32.8 lakh complaints as of June 30, 2026. He said strengthening border and coastal security, implementation of three new criminal laws and the Vibrant Villages Programme were among the measures taken to strengthen internal security. The Union minister said the government has adopted a “zero tolerance” policy towards terrorism and a first-responder approach to disaster management. He also praised the Goa police for effective implementation of the three new criminal laws saying the conviction rate has increased from 22 percent to 53.2 percent. (Source: PTI)    

NEW DELHI, SEP 6: India’s border villages are being transformed from remote and isolated settlements into vibrant centres of development and strategic partners in national security under the government’s Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP), which is being implemented in two phases with a combined outlay of Rs 11,639 crore, it was announced on Sunday. The programme seeks to improve living standards and create sustainable livelihood opportunities in communities along the country’s international land borders by expanding road connectivity, electricity, telecommunications, healthcare, education and other essential infrastructure. The government’s approach marks a shift in the way frontier settlements are viewed, with border villages being positioned as the country’s “first villages” rather than its last settlements. The programme seeks to ensure that thriving communities remain rooted in border areas, thereby contributing to stronger border security. India shares more than 15,000 km of international land borders with seven neighbouring countries. The longest stretch is with Bangladesh at 4,096.7 km, followed by China at 3,488 km and Pakistan at 3,323 km. The remaining border stretches are shared with Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan and Afghanistan. For decades, difficult terrain, inadequate connectivity, limited infrastructure and a shortage of livelihood opportunities left several border villages isolated. These challenges also contributed to out-migration, leaving some frontier areas sparsely populated. The Vibrant Villages Programme was launched in 2023 to address these longstanding challenges through comprehensive development of selected border settlements. The programme recognises border residents as an important component of the country’s security architecture and seeks to create vibrant, secure and prosperous communities along the frontier. The programme is being implemented through VVP-I and VVP-II, which together aim to cover more than 2,616 villages along India’s international land borders. While VVP-I focuses on villages along the northern border, VVP-II extends the development approach to the country’s other international land borders. The two phases have different implementation structures. VVP-I is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented in partnership with the states, while VVP-II is a Central Sector Scheme funded entirely by the Centre. Despite the difference in funding and implementation, both phases focus on improving living conditions, strengthening local economies and empowering border communities. VVP-I was announced in the Union Budget 2022-23 for villages along India’s northern border and was formally launched at Kibithoo in Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh on April 10, 2023. (Source: IANS)