As ANI reported, a senior official from the same plant asked to be anonymous, he said the order was “in view of national security.”
This is not an isolated case. At least seven AD companies have taken similar measures. Workers at Gun & Shell Factory-Cossipore, Bangladesh, confirmed that their leave has been cancelled. “In the current situation, an order was issued on Friday to cancel the leaves,” one employee said. A Kolkata official commented: “In view of the current situation, it is logical that the leaves are cancelled.”
In Odisha, employees of Balangir badminton factory were told that 60 days of leave would not be allowed. The same rules apply to Chandrapur and Itarsi, both of which are the main MIL facilities.
MIL attacks after high alert
A senior official from India Ammunition Co., Ltd. said the company entered a “smart mode” after the deadly terrorist attacks on April 22, killing 26 people, most of whom were tourists, after the deadly terrorist attacks in Jamu and Kashmir and Pahalgam in Kashmir. Chandrapur and Ofk in Jabalpur, has taken a hard line. All 7,000 employees in these units were told not to apply for extended leave. All approved requests have been withdrawn.
Ofk is one of India's largest military ammunition factories, providing Fuzes for armed shells during the Kagill War and producing the 1,000-pound bombs used in the Balakot air strikes.
Chandrapur officials acknowledged that the decision was also driven by underproduction in April. They are under pressure to fulfill domestic and global weapons orders.
Lack of clear unions and official flags
Despite the extensive implementation, there is still confusion over whether there is an official central order. A senior official from the Department of Defense Production said: “In this regard, we have not issued any official notices yet.
Mukesh Singh, president of Bharatiya Pratiraksha Mazdoor Sangh (BPMS), is one of the largest unions for the ordnance factory workers, added: “We have known from the employees working in Mir that their leave has been cancelled. However, we have not yet received any formal communication from the company.”
In an emergency, workers were told they could apply for “proper authorities.”
Interestingly, not all units have not yet implemented furlough cancellations. Bhandara is a MIL factory in Maharashtra (MIL) known for producing powerful explosives such as RDX and HMX, but has not been followed. Non-Mir factories such as Kanpur five units and the gun factory in Jabalpur (making Dhanush 155mm artillery) are also not affected.
India – Pakistani tensions after attack
These domestic shifts are backed by the escalating tensions in India with Pakistan following the Pahalgam incident. In response, the Indian government has taken a series of diplomatic and economic actions.
Attari's Integrated Check Postal (ICP) is closed. Pakistani nationals' SAARC Visa Waiver Program (SVE) has been suspended, causing them to leave India for 40 hours. The two countries also reduced the number of employees with their respective senior commissions.
New Delhi also withdrew from the Indian Waters Treaty, a 1960 agreement that has withheld multiple rounds of bilateral response.
Trade has been hit hard. India imposed a comprehensive ban on goods imported or exported from Pakistan – directly or indirectly. According to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the restrictions apply “regardless of their import status.”
The Ministry of Ports, Transport and Waterways added: “Vehicles with Pakistan’s flag are not allowed to visit any Indian port.” Similarly, vessels with Indian signs are prohibited at any Pakistani port.
The ministry explained that the move aims to “promote development and ensure effective maintenance of the Indian Commercial Marine Corps in a way that best serves the national interest.”
Defense manufacturing network under pressure
Headquartered in Pune, India Ammunition Co., Ltd. operates 12 major factories, from Pinaka Rocket launchers to grenades and infantry ammunition. These facilities cater to Indian Army, Air Force and a variety of export customers.
Their outputs include 5.56mm, 7.62mm and 9mm bullets, tank shells, mortar bombs and high explosion fees. As demand climbs – both defense and exports, the labor force is under pressure to deliver.
When the country responded to the Pahargam tragedy, Mir's decision to limit the leaves signaled to keep ready efforts. Official positions avoid direct links to terrorist attacks, but the timing and scope of action reflect national sentiment.
(Input with TOI)
