New Delhi, May 4: Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives, Munitions India Limited (MIL) has reportedly cancelled long leaves of employees at several of its ordnance factories, citing a mix of national security concerns and production targets.
A circular issued by the Deputy General Manager of Ordnance Factory Chanda in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur district stated that “all kinds of leave” are cancelled with immediate effect. The order, issued under directions from MIL’s Chairman and Managing Director, emphasized the need for “uninterrupted attendance and contribution in line with national requirements during this critical period.” Exemptions would be allowed only in “the most compelling circumstances.”
Similar steps were reported at Ordnance Factory Khamaria (OFK) in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh — one of MIL’s largest units with around 4,000 employees — although the stated reason there was missed production targets. “Since our target of this fiscal is huge and in April, we haven’t achieved our desired target… we’ve been directed to cancel leaves so that we have sufficient workforce and supervision,” said OFK’s PRO.
Despite official denials of a nationwide directive, multiple MIL factory insiders, including those from Ordnance Factory Itarsi in Madhya Pradesh and Gun & Shell Factory-Cossipore in Bengal, confirmed leave cancellations due to the “current scenario,” interpreted as heightened military alert following the terror strike.
A senior MIL official, speaking anonymously, said employees had been placed on “alert mode,” but denied that there was any centralized order to cancel leaves across all 12 factories under MIL. “If there is urgency to expedite production, we should be able to do it… but there is no official decision to cancel leave across all factories,” the official said.
A Department of Defence Production spokesperson also clarified that no official circular had been issued regarding leave cancellations, but acknowledged that some Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) may have internally instructed employees to remain available due to prevailing security concerns.
Unions have voiced concern over the move. “We have come to know from our employees working in MIL that their leave has been cancelled. However, we have not got any official communication from the company yet,” said Mukesh Singh, president of Bharatiya Pratiraksha Mazdoor Sangh.
Leave cancellations have reportedly not affected ordnance factories outside the MIL network.
