Shillong (Meghalaya) [India]: In response to the evolving situation in neighboring Bangladesh, authorities in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district have imposed a night curfew under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The curfew will cover a 1-kilometre radius from the Zero Line along the Indo-Bangladesh International Border.
According to an official order issued by R.M. Kurbah, IAS, District Magistrate of East Khasi Hills, the night curfew will be in effect daily from 8 PM to 6 AM, starting from May 8, 2025, and will remain in force for two months.
The order prohibits the movement of individuals near the border with the intention of illegally crossing into Bangladesh or entering India. It also restricts unauthorized gatherings of five or more persons and bans the carrying of items such as sticks, rods, and stones that could be used as weapons.
Furthermore, the directive aims to clamp down on illegal activities, including the smuggling of cattle, contraband items, betelnut, betel leaves, dry fish, bidis, cigarettes, and tea leaves in the border areas.
The curfew was enacted immediately due to the urgency of the situation.
Meanwhile, in the wake of Operation Sindoor—India’s retaliatory strike targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir—Bangladesh has expressed concern and is closely observing the regional situation.
In a statement released Wednesday, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said:
“The Government of Bangladesh is closely observing the evolving situation in India and Pakistan. Bangladesh expresses its deep concern over the situation and urges both countries to remain calm, show restraint, and refrain from taking any steps that could further aggravate the situation.”
“In the spirit of regional peace, prosperity and stability, Bangladesh remains hopeful that tensions will be defused through diplomatic endeavours, and that peace will ultimately prevail for the benefit of the peoples in the region.”
Following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians, the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor on Wednesday morning to eliminate terror hideouts.
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said:
“Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian Armed Forces to deliver justice to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and their families. Nine terrorist camps were targeted and successfully destroyed… The locations were so selected to avoid damage to civilian infrastructures and loss of any civilian lives.”
During a press briefing, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi showcased videos confirming the destruction of several terror camps, including Muridke—the site where David Headley and Ajmal Kasab were trained prior to the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Additional locations targeted in the strikes included Sarjal camp in Sialkot, Markaz Ahle Hadith, Barnala and Markaz Abbas in Kotli, and Mehmoona Joya camp in Sialkot, Col Qureshi stated.
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri also addressed the press, saying:
“The attack in Pahalgam was marked with extreme barbarity, with the victims mostly killed with head shots at close range and in front of their family…the family members were deliberately traumatised through the manner of killing, accompanied by the exhortation that they should take back the message. The attack was clearly driven by the objective of undermining normalcy returning to Kashmir.”