Latest news with #BalwantSingh
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
SC panel summons govt officials over ‘ESZ violation' in Satkosia reserve
1 2 Bhubaneswar: Supreme Court's Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has summoned the state chief secretary, Manoj Ahuja, tourism secretary, Balwant Singh, principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) and head of forest force, Suresh Pant, and PCCF (wildlife), Prem Kumar Jha, to attend in person before it on July 17. They are required to explain the alleged violation of eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) in Satkosia Tiger Reserve as per the tourism department's master plan. The CEC has also mentioned in its July 3 letter to the chief secretary that they will have to explain the plan on constructing a two-lane national highway over Chilika Lake and a bridge over the Mahanadi river near Baliput in the eco-sensitive Satkosia. Based on the CEC letter, forest department communicated to the departments concerned on Sunday to appear before the SC panel as revealed by the govt letter dated July 5. The CEC letter to the chief secretary stated, "With reference to proceedings of the meeting on the master plan on tourism, land bank and HR issues held on May 30, relating to tourism projects, forest clearances and eco-sensitive zones and the requirement of approval of the tourism department in the finalisation of ESZ, you are requested to attend the meeting on July 17 in the CEC office, New Delhi." Earlier, CEC had sought a response from the chief secretary regarding alleged eco-sensitive zone violations, referring to the draft proposal of Satkosia's wildlife wing. Satkosia Abhayaranya and Praja Surkshya Samiti (SAPSS), which filed the petition in the apex court, stated that Satkosia is a Ramsar convention site and the forest department is attempting to modify the 2011 ESZ norm to allow tourism department to undertake massive projects in the core area. Towards the Baliput area, the ESZ has been reduced to zero to pave way for construction activities. "This will facilitate the mushrooming of hotels on the edge of Satkosia gorge, thus encouraging commercial hotels to make their interest prevail over conservation. This will also completely disturb the nesting of birds and the basking of crocodiles on sandbars in both Baliput and Badmul ends," wildlife conservationist Prasanna Behera said. "Outside the boundary of Satkosia, at least 1km of ESZ should be maintained where no construction and tourism activities can take place. If the ESZ is made zero, the biodiversity of Satkosia gorge, which is home to endangered gharials, will perish fast," he added.
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Time of India
Gang rape at beach throws spotlight on tourist police cell infra, staff shortage
1 2 3 Bhubaneswar: The gang rape of a 20-year-old college student on a beach in Ganjam district on Sunday has raised questions about the effectiveness of tourist police cells in ensuring safety of visitors. Eight tourist police cells were set up in 2015 in various locations — three in Bhubaneswar (at Lingaraj, Dhauli and Nandankanan police stations), three in Puri (at Sea Beach, Konark and Brahmagiri police stations), and one each at Gopalpur and Chandipur police stations. The cells are facing challenges in effective functioning due to inadequate infrastructure and staff shortage, operating with existing police station personnel. "While each cell has a sanctioned strength of at least a sub-inspector, an assistant SI and six constables, they are running with half the number. Even though they are supposed to deal with tourist related matters, these personnel are being engaged in routine policing job," said a police officer, requesting anonymity. The cells largely handle complaints about theft and robbery of tourist belongings, with additional reports of tourist harassment in Puri and Bhubaneswar. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Tourism secretary Balwant Singh told TOI, "We previously sent a proposal to the home department, requesting to strengthen the existing tourist police cells with adequate manpower and other infrastructure. We will again pursue the matter." Sources in the home department said the tourist police cells will be strengthened soon. "Recruitment plans are under consideration of the govt," a home department official said. Deputy chief minister Pravati Parida, who also holds the tourism portfolio, emphasised tourist safety is a priority. "I have already spoken with state police to enhance the safety measures at tourist destinations," Parida said. The Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D) had prepared a 'Tourist Police Scheme' report in 2022, advising states to develop standard operating procedures, implement training for 'tourist cops', and establish uniform guidelines. "We will conduct security audits and training programmes for tourism stakeholders. Proposals will be sent to local administrations to improve lighting systems and install CCTV cameras at popular tourist destinations. We will also improve police visibility and surveillance," a senior police officer said. Police said the state witnesses minimal tourist-related crime. "Molestation of a Swedish woman near Lingaraj Temple in 2024 was the lone case against a foreigner reported in the state in the last four years. The case ended in conviction of the accused within three weeks. The number of offences involving theft and snatching of articles of domestic tourists is minimal," the police officer said. The state received about 1.09 crore domestic and 53,392 foreign tourists in 2024, with Puri, Konark and Chilika lake the key attractions.
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Time of India
3 held for duping 24 youths in fake Army job racket in Agra
Agra: Three persons were arrested for allegedly running a fraud Territorial Army recruitment racket that duped 24 youths from Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir through bogus advertisements, fake medical tests, and forged selection letters. The arrests were made on Sunday in Agra during a joint operation by UP STF and Agra Police. Sunil Kumar, 41, from Samba district, Jammu & Kashmir; Balwant Singh from Kathua, Jammu & Kashmir; and Ajay Kumar Yadav, a resident of Sange village in Firozabad were apprehended following a tip-off received from the military intelligence unit in Lucknow on Saturday. A team led by ASP Rakesh of the STF's Agra unit, along with inspector Yatindra Sharma raided the Transport Nagar area and arrested the trio while they were allegedly preparing to conduct fake medical examinations. Two Aadhaar cards and several forged documents were seized from the accused. During interrogation, the accused revealed that they operated the racket with two accomplices — Ranjeet Yadav, a physiotherapist who runs a medical centre in Firozabad, and Deepak Kumar Sharma, identified as the kingpin. The group released fake Territorial Army recruitment ads targeting general duty roles and demanded between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 4 lakh from each candidate. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo STF sources said the gang had called 24 aspirants to Agra for medical tests. The accused planned to take the youths to Ranjeet's centre for fake examinations and then issue forged selection letters. Police registered a case at Hriparwat police station under BNS sections 318(4) (cheating), 338 (forgery of valuable securities), 336(3) (forgery), 340(2) (use of forged documents), and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy).
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Time of India
Indian-origin man in US admits to visa scam via fake robberies
GANDHINAGAR: At a time when the United States is tightening the visa regime and imposing visa restrictions on owners, executives, and senior officials of travel agencies based or operating in India for facilitating illegal immigration to the United States, Ram Patel (37) of Indian origin has recently pleaded guilty in a federal court in Boston to staging armed robberies as part of a visa fraud and his co-accused Balwant Singh face a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 and deportation upon completion of sentence. According to a statement issued by the District Attorney's (DA) office in Massachusetts beginning March 2023, Patel and his alleged co-conspirator Balwinder Singh (39) set up and carried out staged armed robberies of at least nine convenience/liquor stores and fast-food restaurants across the US, including at least five in purpose of the staged robberies was to allow the clerks to claim that they were victims of a violent crime on an application for U non-immigrant status (U Visa), the statement said.
NDTV
21-05-2025
- NDTV
At Ration Shop In Madhya Pradesh, Dead Get Food But The Living Struggle
An alleged ration scam has come to light at a distribution centre in Madhya Pradesh's Satna district in which a man who has been dead for seven years has been getting foodgrain but another, who is alive, has been struggling to do so for eight years. Under the National Food Security Act, each member of priority households below a certain income bracket is given 2 kg wheat and 3 kg rice free of cost through the public distribution system (PDS). At one such distribution centre in Akouna Gram Panchayat of Rampur Baghelan tehsil, ration has been taken in the name of Balwant Singh, who died in a road accident seven years ago, despite his death being recorded on the Samagra Portal - a state initiative to facilitate the distribution of social security and benefit schemes. On the other end of the spectrum is Shankar, a 62-year-old tribal man from Akouna village, who was declared dead on the Samagra portal eight years ago and has not been receiving foodgrain since then. Akouna Sarpanch Shraddha Singh said Shankar was mysteriously declared dead on the Samagra portal in 2017, making him ineligible for getting foodgrain under the PDS. He began approaching various authorities to rectify the error and sought help from Sarpanch Singh six months ago. Ms Singh said she raised the matter on CPGRAMS (Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System), an online platform to record citizen grievances against government organisations. After the case was investigated, the Satna district collector ordered that Shankar be declared alive, and the 62-year-old was revived in government records. He is still not getting the ration, however, Authorities' Take Shivkumar Gautam, a salesman at the government ration centre, said names of eight members of Balwant Singh's family are registered under the same Samagra ID and one of them had been collecting the foodgrain in his name. On May 13, this was done by one Pradeep Singh, he said. District Supply Officer Samyak Jain said he was not aware of either of the cases. "If what you are saying is true, both cases are serious. Action will be taken against the culprits after investigation. It will be ensured that eligible people get the benefits and the ration of ineligible people is stopped," he said.
