Morning Digest | Two die in firing near Army camp in J&K; Defence sources say China is expanding model villages in strategic areas, and more

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China expanding model villages along LAC, including new villages facing strategic Siliguri corridor

China is expanding its chain of model villages or Xiaokang (moderately prosperous) villages close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), opposite Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, including in the Chumbi valley which faces the strategically crucial Siliguri corridor, according to defence sources. This is in addition to continuing its infrastructure development and additional deployments along the LAC.

Two civilians killed in firing incident outside Army camp in Rajouri

Two civilians were killed in a “firing incident” outside an Army camp in the Pir Panjal Valley’s Rajouri district on December 16. However, locals were demanding a probe into the incident. “In an early morning firing incident by unidentified terrorists at Rajouri near Military Hospital, there has been fatal casualty of two individuals. The police, security forces and civil administration officials are on the site,” the Army said in a tweet.

‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’ will unite the country and connect different languages, says Home Minister Amit Shah

‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’ is an attempt to bring a cultural renaissance that will unite the country and connect different languages, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday. He was addressing the closing ceremony of the 30-day event, during which nearly 2,500 visitors from Tamil Nadu arrived in Varanasi

Coordinated effort to contain Chinese digital loan apps: Finance Minister