The Union Home Ministry has directed all states and Union Territories to strengthen security measures, citing the possibility of violent incidents in India amid heightened tensions in West Asia following the US–Israel–Iran conflict.
According to the communication sent to chief secretaries and directors general of police, the ministry said the prevailing war-like situation could trigger law-and-order issues, and called for preventive steps to maintain public peace.
The advisory asked authorities to identify and monitor religious preachers and elements accused of inciting violence, and to enhance protection for the embassies and consulates of the US, Israel and Iran. It also called for additional security at tourist locations frequented by visitors from these countries and at Jewish places of worship.
States were told to intensify surveillance by installing CCTV cameras at key locations, conduct regular checks for hidden explosives, and closely watch social media activity linked to pro-Iran groups, Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and student organisations. The ministry also asked officials to monitor social media to curb the spread of misinformation.
In its letter, the ministry cited past incidents, including violence in Mumbai in 1989 linked to protests over Salman Rushdie’s book “The Satanic Verses” and anti-US protests in India during Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990, as examples of how overseas developments have previously led to unrest domestically.
