Shillong: Lieutenant General Vikas Lakhera, Director General of Assam Rifles, warned the youth Friday to stay sharp against malicious social media campaigns. He believes these online narratives threaten to destabilize society. The warning came at the Annual Maj Bob Khathing Memorial Lecture held in New Delhi.
Assam Rifles and the United Service Institution of India hosted the event. The lecture focused on the weaponization of social media platforms to spread false stories about security forces in the Northeast. Military officers, veterans, and academics gathered to discuss how digital misinformation erodes public trust.
Subir Bhaumik, an expert on regional strategic affairs, delivered the lecture. He analyzed the changing information environment and suggested ways to fight back against propaganda. A defense spokesman stated, "It also focused on the emerging challenges posed by misinformation and coordinated narrative campaigns, while suggesting practical and effective lines of effort to counter the same."
Lieutenant General Abhijit S. Pendharkar, Director General of Military Operations, gave the keynote address. He argued that leadership in the Northeast demands a deep understanding of local society and security. Vice Admiral Sanjay J. Singh (Retd) also spoke on the legacy of Major Bob Khathing.
Major Khathing remains a pivotal figure for national integration. He famously led a team on foot from Chariduar, Assam, starting on January 17, 1951. They trekked through harsh weather to reach Tawang by February 6. Indian administrative control was formally established there on February 9, 1951. Today, a state-funded memorial stands in Tawang on land donated by local residents.
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