Latest news with #HomeGuard
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
CID to conduct computer skill test for Home Guard aspirants from July 27
The Crime Investigation Department (CID) will conduct the computer skill test for aspirants of the Home Guard posts from July 27 to 29 at VIT-AP University in Amaravati, Guntur district. Candidates are required to attend the test as per the schedule published on the official CID website: Aspirants must carry their original hall tickets issued by the CID and a valid Aadhaar card for identification. Failure to produce these documents will result in disqualification from the recruitment process, officials warned. Out of the 12,569 candidates who applied for 28 Home Guard posts, 5,567 have been shortlisted for the computer test. The CID has strictly prohibited the use of mobile phones or any electronic gadgets inside the examination hall. The directive was issued through an official release on Sunday.
Indian Express
14-07-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Gujarat government releases Rs 25 lakh ex-gratia after widow of Home Guard jawan who died of Covid moves HC
The state government has released Rs 25 lakh as ex-gratia compensation to the widow of a Home Guard jawan, who was involved in the duty of enforcing lockdown in Ahmedabad city in 2021, and died of Covid-19, after she moved a petition before the Gujarat High Court. The woman had moved court after her representation seeking the ex-gratia amount under a policy of the state government was not considered. As the government released the compensation amount, the woman withdrew her petition before HC on July 10. According to the details available, Mahendra Singh Bhati, a resident of Krishnanagar in Naroda area of Ahmedabad, was deployed by Ahmedabad city police to enforce lockdown at various points during the Covid pandemic. The Naroda police station authorities had also issued him a certificate acknowledging that Bhati discharged duties in night shifts to enforce the lockdown. The last day he discharged duties was on April 6, 2021. The next day, as his condition deteriorated, Bhati underwent an RTPCR test and was diagnosed with Covid-19. Later, he was transferred to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital where he died in the course of his treatment on April 11, 2021. Subsequently, Bhati's wife Sneha approached the state authorities seeking compensation as per the policy of the Gujarat government mentioned in a government resolution dated March 31, 2020 whereby employees, including Home Guards, if expire of Covid-19 while contracting the infection during discharge of duty then their legal heirs would be entitled to ex gratia benefit of Rs 25 lakhs. When she did not get the compensation, Sneha made a formal representation on September 20, 2023. However, after not getting any response from the state authorities, she moved a petition before HC through advocate Ratna Vora. Among other things, Sneha had also stated that her husband was the sole bread earner of the family and that she has children pursuing education. Following the petition, HC had issued notices to the state authorities, ordering them to take an appropriate decision on Sneha's representation. In April 2025, the Home department of Gujarat government paid the financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh to Sneha. Speaking with The Indian Express, Sneha's counsel Vora said, 'Following our petition, the state government has paid the compensation amount to the widow of the Home Guard. So, we withdrew the petition last week.' With this, the petition was disposed of by the HC.
The Hindu
10-07-2025
- The Hindu
Ashwini Vaishnaw reviews safety issues at level crossings after Tamil Nadu's Cuddalore accident
A day after the tragic incident of a passenger train colliding with a school van at a level crossing in Tamil Nadu's Cuddalore district, which killed three children, Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed railway safety matters on July 9 and issued directions for the provision of CCTV systems at all level crossings, officials said. 'It has been directed that CCTV systems should be provided at all the level crossing (LC) gates, along with the necessary recording systems. The power supply for the CCTV should also be made available at the LC gate. The power supply can be based on solar panels, battery backup, UPS etc., in addition to a commercial supply. This activity is to be completed in mission mode,' a senior railway official who attended the review said. Officials said that a 15-day safety inspection drive on the LC gates in block sections has also been launched. At present, there are level crossings where interlocking systems are not available, in which case, at times, after the green signal is given to the train, it may start moving without the gate being closed. 'Fast-tracking interlocking of LC gates in mission mode is to be undertaken,' the official added. A Train Vehicle Unit (TVU) is a measure used in railway operations, specifically at level crossings, to assess the traffic density and prioritise safety measures. It is calculated by multiplying the number of train units by the number of road vehicle units passing through a level crossing within a 24-hour period. In the review meeting, it was decided to lower the TVU threshold for interlocking operations from 20,000 to 10,000, officials said. TVU is used to evaluate the risk level at level crossings and helps in deciding whether to eliminate, merge or man the crossings. It is also an important threshold to understand the need for building Road Over Bridges (ROB) or Road Under Bridges (RUB) to eliminate the risks of accidents. Editorial | Death by negligence: On the railway gate accident in Cuddalore Officials said that Railway PSUs may be involved in interlocking works and construction, and that all gates above 10,000 TVU will be interlocked irrespective of ROBs, RUBs or Limited Height Subway (LHS) plans. Further, for non-interlocked gates, daily random checks of voice recordings will be conducted at least twice per day from each division by Divisional Railway Managers (DRMs) using Voice Logger Systems. Instructions were also issued in the review meeting to standardise speed breakers and warning boards at all LC gates, accelerate construction of LHS/RUB/ROB to eliminate LC gates and prepare a list of conflict-prone gates (where public pressures or manhandling happens) where Railway Protection Force or Home Guard deployment is to be ensured. According to 2024 Railway data, there are 17,083 manned level crossings, which are non-interlocking gates and require a person to open and shut gates when a train passes through.
News18
10-07-2025
- News18
CCTV, Speed Breakers, Audits: Railways Tightens Safety Norms At Crossings After Tamil Nadu Tragedy
To support gatekeepers facing pressure from the public at high-conflict crossings, Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Home Guard personnel will be deployed strategically. In response to the tragic train-van collision in Tamil Nadu's Cuddalore district that claimed the lives of three schoolchildren and injured six others, the Indian Railways has announced a comprehensive set of safety measures aimed at enhancing vigilance and accountability at railway-level crossings nationwide. The new directives include the installation of CCTV cameras with solar-powered backups at all Level Crossing (LC) gates to enable real-time monitoring and evidence collection. In a significant policy shift, the interlocking threshold—which allows automated gate operation—will be reduced from 20,000 to 10,000 Train Vehicle Units (TVU), ensuring more gates function with automated safety systems, especially at high-speed train routes. Additionally, the Railways will randomly audit voice recordings from at least two non-interlocked gates per division every day to monitor protocol adherence. Speed breakers and warning signage at LC gates will be redesigned for improved visibility and compliance. To support gatekeepers facing pressure from the public at high-conflict crossings, Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Home Guard personnel will be deployed strategically. The ministry also announced an accelerated plan for constructing Road Over Bridges (ROBs), Road Under Bridges (RUBs), and Limited Height Subways (LHS) to eliminate vulnerable level crossings where possible. The measures reflect a heightened push to ensure that tragedies like the Cuddalore incident are not repeated and that railway crossings—often sites of preventable accidents—are made significantly safer. view comments First Published: July 10, 2025, 08:34 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Time of India
ACB expands probe into home guard bribery, duty posting scam
1 2 Jaipur: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) expanded its probe into Home Guard commandant Navneet Joshi, a day after he was caught allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 25,000 at the Home Guard Training Centre in city. Bureau sources said that they will also look into allegations that the accused officials may have been demanding monthly payments from home guards in exchange for favourable duty postings. According to some representatives of a home guard association, the bribery was not an isolated incident. They claim that home guards were regularly coerced into paying monthly bribes for postings with different departments such as traffic, prisons, and police check-posts — all of which allowed them to wear the khaki uniform and access better allowances and opportunities for 'extra income'. "Home guards are used for different types of postings. For example, they are deputed at the residences of senior bureaucrats and politicians where the work often includes household chores, which most guards prefer to avoid," said an association representative, requesting anonymity. "The second is field duty — at police outposts, traffic posts, or jails — where the guards get to wear the uniform and receive a regular allowance. It's these desirable posts that were being sold month after month," he added. ACB's initial arrest took place Monday, when Joshi, a Rajasthan Police Service (RPS) officer of additional SP rank, and company commander Chandrapal Singh Shekhawat, were allegedly caught red-handed taking a bribe from a suspended home guard constable. The complainant alleged that the two officers demanded Rs 2 lakh in total — to be paid in eight instalments — for lifting his suspension and reassigning him to duty. The first instalment of Rs 25,000 was paid under surveillance by ACB, which then moved in to arrest both officers at the training centre on MI Road. During searches, ACB recovered Rs 4.85 lakh in cash and documents for five plots from Joshi's residence. At Shekhawat's house, Rs 2.57 lakh was found along with documents for two plots and other property papers. With growing concerns that more home guards may have been victims of this racket, ACB is now widening the scope of its investigation. Senior officials said that Joshi and Shekhawat are being interrogated under Prevention of Corruption Act and that financial documents seized from their homes are being examined to determine whether they own assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.
