Tokyo, March 31: Japan’s Defence Ministry said on Tuesday that long-range missiles with counterstrike capabilities have been brought into service for the first time at two Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) bases in the country, a move that has sparked domestic opposition.

The deployment of the missiles at Camp Kengun in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, and Camp Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, marks a significant shift from the country’s long-standing exclusively defence-oriented policy under its war-renouncing Constitution, reports Xinhua, quoting Kyodo News.

Camp Kengun has been equipped with a ground-launched version of the upgraded Type 12 land-to-ship guided missile that can fly about 1,000 kilometres, far exceeding Japan’s territorial boundaries and widely seen as having clear offensive capabilities.

Meanwhile, hyper velocity gliding projectiles have been equipped at a training unit at Camp Fuji. Designed for island defence, the deployed model has a range of several hundred kilometres, with the ministry working to upgrade it to around 2,000 kilometres.

Kyodo News noted that “enemy base strike capability” refers to Japan’s ability to launch counterstrikes against adversary bases before actual damage occurs, if it determines that an attack is imminent. However, analysts warn that misjudgments could risk violating international law by constituting a preemptive strike.

Atsushi Koketsu, emeritus professor at Yamaguchi University in Japan, told Xinhua that while the government frames the capability as a means of strengthening deterrence, it “clearly goes beyond the scope of self-defence.”

On Tuesday, local residents in Kumamoto staged protests near Camp Kengun, holding placards reading “Oppose deployment” and “No missiles needed,” Kyodo News reported.

Protesters expressed concern that the deployment could turn the area into a potential military target, and have repeatedly called on the defence ministry to hold public briefings, which have yet to take place, the report said.

Separately, more than a dozen citizen representatives met with defence ministry officials in Tokyo on Monday, urging the government to halt its military expansion measures, including the missile deployment in Kumamoto. Participants criticised officials for providing vague responses and frequently avoiding transparency.

Citizen representative Kujirai said after the meeting that the government’s replies followed a “routine pattern,” increasingly citing “confidentiality” as a pretext when declining to answer specific questions. He also criticised Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s push to “make Japan strong and wealthy,” arguing it amounts to large-scale military expansion without adequate public accountability. “This is a misinterpretation of the citizens’ demands and a very dangerous stance,” he said.

Another representative, Akira Saito, told Xinhua that the government officials’ response remained very limited. Going forward, in addition to directly questioning Takaichi at the parliamentary level, “it is crucial to continuously expand and amplify our voices through civic movements,” he said.

Mumbai: Police has exposed the accused who came to Mumbai from Odisha and cheated the elderly from the ATM machine on the pretext of withdrawing money from the ATM machine. He was wanted for the last four years. Dandoshi police have also claimed to arrest him. According to the details, the complainant Vishwas Sadanand, 51, filed a complaint that when he went to withdraw money from the ATM center in Malad, a suspect withdrew Rs 40,000 from the ATM against his will. In this case, the police registered a case on the complaint of the complainant. The police examined 60 to 70 CCTV footage in this case and then on the basis of this footage and the information of the informant, the police took Krishna Chandra Acharya into custody from Naigaon and during his search, 25 ATM cards and cash were recovered from his possession. The police arrested the accused and presented him in the court. The court has ordered his remand. In this case, after his arrest, four more cases were revealed against him, according to the police. A total of four cases have been registered against him in Dandoshi and Kasturba Marg and he is wanted in these too. This action was taken on the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Devin Bharti and DCP Mahesh Chamte had issued orders to arrest this accused. This accused used to commit such crimes in Mumbai, Thane, and Odisha. The police is investigating this matter further.

Mumbai: In a major relief for residents of Mankhurd and Chembur, the first phase of Mumbai Metro Line 2B is set to be inaugurated on April 3. The residents have long demanded the opening of the 5.4-km stretch, which is set to ease congestion and improve connectivity.

The Phase I section of the corridor covers a 5.4-km stretch between Diamond Garden in Chembur and Mandale in Mankhurd, comprising five stations: Diamond Garden, Shivaji Chowk, BSNL Metro, Mankhurd and Mandale. 

The entire 23.6-km elevated Metro Line 2B corridor, with 20 stations, will connect several major transport systems, including the Western and Eastern Express Highways, suburban railway networks, the Monorail and other metro corridors such as Mumbai Metro Line 2A, Mumbai Metro Line 3 and Mumbai Metro Line 4. Once the corridor is fully operational, it is expected to reduce travel time along the route by up to 75 per cent.

The route between Chembur and Mankhurd has witnessed severe traffic jams, especially during peak hours. The evening rush between Chembur and Mankhurd is expected to ease, bringing relief to office-goers, students, and senior citizens alike. In Chembur, with the opening of the stretch, connectivity to popular locations such as Diamond Garden, K Star Mall, St. Anthony’s High School, RCF Colony, the Fine Arts Society, and Chembur Railway Station will become easier.

Earlier in the day, Metropolitan Commissioner Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, IAS, also conducted an on-ground inspection of the corridor infrastructure, reviewing safety measures and operational preparedness. Talking to X, Mukhejee added that the corridor with 5 modern stations is set to transform mobility in Mumbai’s eastern suburbs — faster, greener, and smarter connectivity for lakhs of Mumbaikars.