New Delhi [India], May 16: Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the new Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) at North Block on Friday, underscoring the importance of integrated intelligence-sharing in national security.
During the inauguration, Shah highlighted Operation Sindoor as a testament to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strong political resolve, the precision of India’s intelligence network, and the operational excellence of the armed forces.
In a significant achievement for India’s security forces, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) successfully scaled Mt. Makalu (8,485 m)—the world’s fifth-highest peak—on April 19. This marks the first-ever ascent of the peak by any Central Armed Police Force (CAPF).
Congratulating the force via a post on X (formerly Twitter), Amit Shah lauded the ITBP jawans for their courage and resilience in extreme weather conditions. He noted that the personnel not only unfurled the national flag at the summit but also conducted a Swachh Bharat-inspired cleanliness drive, removing 150 kg of garbage from the mountain.
The Makalu expedition was part of ITBP’s dual-peak International Mountaineering Expedition, which also included Mt. Annapurna (8,091 m). The historic mission was flagged off from ITBP Headquarters in New Delhi on March 21.
Led by Deputy Commandant Anoop Kumar Negi and Deputy Commandant Nihas Suresh, the 12-member team was divided into two groups of six. The Makalu group achieved an impressive 83% success rate, with five climbers—Assistant Commandant Sanjay Kumar, Head Constables Sonam Stobdan, Pradeep Panwar, Bahadur Chand, and Constable Vimal Kumar—reaching the summit at approximately 08:15 hrs on April 19.
The expedition not only demonstrated ITBP’s mountaineering excellence but also reinforced its operational readiness in extreme high-altitude environments.