Latest news with #Pahalgam
The Hindu
6 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
237 foreign nationals have been deported to their countries, Tamil Nadu government tells Madras High Court
The State government has informed the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court that from 2022 to May 25, 2025, 237 foreign nationals have been deported to their countries. In a counter affidavit, Superintendent of Police, Security Branch CID, Chennai, N. Stephen Jesubatham, on behalf of the Director-General of Police, submitted that during this period, 66 cases were registered against 188 foreign nationals who were found to be overstaying in Tamil Nadu. Additionally, 14 cases were registered against 31 African nationals for transporting drugs and 65 cases were registered against 280 foreign nationals for other offences. According to the Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, there are 17,770 foreigners overstaying in Tamil Nadu since 2011 (as on May 25, 2025). Several of them, who landed in Tamil Nadu, have travelled to other States. The Tamil Nadu Police and the Bureau of Immigration are taking regular efforts to trace these foreigners. Following the Pahalgam attack, the Under Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, has issued orders with regard to revocation of visas of Pakistani nationals. As per the order, all existing valid visas, except medical, long-term, diplomatic and officials visas, issued to Pakistani nationals stands revoked. Medical visa was valid till April 29. A total of 40 Pakistani nationals were reportedly staying in Tamil Nadu, of which 16 were granted long-term visas and 24 have applied for long-term visa extension. They are on valid stay as per the order of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Revised procedure A total of 95 Rohingyas (Myanmar nationals) were staying in the State. The Ministry has issued a revised procedure for the deportation of illegal Bangladeshi nationals/Rohingyas (Myanmar nationals). To restrict the movement of illegal/overstaying foreigners, one Special camp was functioning in Tiruchi. At present, 151 foreigners have been accommodated in Tiruchi Special Camp. Anticipating space constraints, the government has issued a G.O. re-notifying Cheyyar Special Camp in Tiruvannamalai district to accommodate foreign nationals till the disposal of the cases against them and deportation under the Foreigners Act. Bangladeshi nationals who stayed illegally have been arrested across the State and have been lodged in the Puzhal Central Prison. If they come out on bail, they will be lodged in special camps till their deportation. Commissioners of Police in cities and Superintendent of Police in districts who are the Foreigners Registration Officers (FRO) have been instructed to regularly locate, identify and physically verify overstaying foreigners in their jurisdiction and to regularise their stay or deport them. They were also instructed to ensure details are updated properly and defaulters are dealt with under relevant Acts/Rules. As per the directions of the Foreigners Regional Registration Office, FROs in cities/districts have nominated a DSP level officer as nodal officer for Foreigners Identification Portal (FIP) to monitor foreigners. If foreigners are arrested, proposals are initiated by FROs for their deportation under the Foreigners Act. The State government will issue deportation orders after arranging travel documents to the foreigner, if required, in consultation with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs. The authorities were monitoring the foreigners and if they indulge in any illegal activities, appropriate action will be initiated including to deport them, it was submitted. A Division Bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and A.D. Maria Clete directed the Central government to file its counter affidavit in three weeks and posted the matter for hearing after three weeks. The court was hearing the public interest litigation petition filed by K.K. Ramesh of Madurai who sought a direction to the authorities to take immediate action against foreign nationals who were staying in India even after the expiry of their visa.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Policy of forbearance over, terrorists will be hit hard: Def secy on India's new normal
New Delhi: Underlining the country's "new normal" in dealing with terrorism, Defence Secretary R K Singh on Saturday said the "policy of forbearance that was practised for decades" is over and terrorists will be hit hard, at a time and place of India's choosing. During an interaction at an event here, Singh also said Pakistan "treats them (terrorists) as their assets" and mourns for them when they are hit -- a reference to the presence of many Pakistani army personnel at a funeral of some of those killed in strikes on terror infrastructure under Operation Sindoor . "It confirms and validates our assessment all along that these people are deliberately cultivated for cross-border terrorism in India, as an instrument of state policy," Singh said. The defence secretary was asked about the sequence of events during the recent four-day military confrontation between India and Pakistan that was eventually halted after the two sides arrived at an understanding on May 10, leading to a cessation of hostilities. The Pakistani military side came forward on May 9, "asking for a call from the DGMO, which they had earlier refused even to take", Singh said, in response to a query. Live Events "And it was clear at that stage that they were in the process of capitulating essentially. And this was in the morning of May 9. So even before the announcement was made (on May 10), we all knew that this was going to happen. And this is what happened. The DGMO spoke and they essentially asked for a ceasefire," he added. The defence secretary was speaking at a session hosted at the "CNN News 18 Town Hall: The Defence Edition". India launched Operation Sindoor early on May 7 in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack and conducted precision strikes on several terror-infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Pakistani military, in retaliation, targeted Indian military installations and civilian areas, with India conducting counter-offensives against it and damaging several key air bases in the neighbouring country, including the Noor Khan and Rahim Yar Khan bases. The precision strikes on nine locations on May 7 "killed, to our assessment, almost 100 terrorists and their followers, whether some of the people had left (the buildings) is a different matter", Singh said. Besides hitting them in terms of casualty, the intent was to demolish their headquarters, send a message to those terror outfits who have a long lineage in terms of terror activities in India, he said. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it has been decided that people will "no longer allow them (terrorists) necessarily to choose the time and place", Singh said. "Yes, they will have their element of surprise always -- in terms of hitting, finding some innocent targets, soft targets. The intent is that thereafter, they should know that we will respond, but they should not know how and the time and place (of the response)," the defence secretary added. "And the nuclear umbrella is not going to deter us," he emphasised. There will be a "policy of zero tolerance", the hits will be on the headquarters and the leaders, not only on the foot soldiers. This is the "new normal" that the prime minister has made very clear and in the future, therefore, "the element of surprise will not only be with them, it will be with us also", Singh said. "We will sort of decide the script of what ensues thereafter once they try to hit some soft targets in India," he warned. "That expectation.... That the policy of forbearance that was practised for decades, the new normal is that the forbearance is over, we will hit them hard, at a time and place of our own choosing. And the level of escalation will be determined by our leadership. And it will definitely not be turning the other cheek," Singh said.
News18
13 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Defence Secretary Unpacks India's Tactical Brilliance In Op Sindoor At CNN-News18 Townhall
Last Updated: The Defence Secretary revealed how India planned the Operation Sindoor's targets in Pakistan, in response to barbaric Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh on Saturday revealed during CNN-News18 Defence Townhall how planning went into Operation Sindoor and how the targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir were chosen and with what message. He said that after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, India wanted to convey the message, which could only be conveyed if terror headquarters were struck deep inside Pakistan. Therefore, LeT and Jaish headquarters in Muridke and Bahawalpur were chosen, he said. 'After Pahalgam, there was meticulous planning of what target we should hit. The intent this time was to go beyond the foot soldiers and hit the headquarters, particularly LET and Jaish at Muridke and Bahawalpur. These outfits' relationship with terror in India goes back to 26/11. The idea was to send a clear message, and the message would only go if we hit the headquarters and not just some of the camps. The planning, therefore, was focused on that. The intent was to hit only the terrorist outfits," he said while speaking at CNN-News18 Defence Townhall. 'This was to convey to the Pakistanis that this was a non-escalatory, calibrated operation against terrorists. That was conveyed to them the next day, they did not respond to our calls and decided to escalate," he added. More to follow…
News18
14 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Who Is Parag Jain, The IPS Officer Appointed As India's New R&AW Chief?
Last Updated: Currently serving as the head of the Aviation Research Centre, a crucial arm of R&AW, Jain played a pivotal role in Operation Sindoor The Narendra Modi government on Saturday appointed Parag Jain, a 1989-batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre, as the new Secretary of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW)—India's premier external intelligence agency—for a fixed tenure of two years. He will officially take over on July 1, succeeding Ravi Sinha, whose term ends on June 30 after what many viewed as a relatively low-profile tenure. Jain's elevation was cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on June 28, ending speculation over the leadership succession in one of India's most sensitive security establishments. Currently serving as the head of the Aviation Research Centre (ARC)—a crucial arm of R&AW—Jain played a pivotal role in Operation Sindoor, India's precision retaliation following the Pahalgam terror attack. Under his command, ARC gathered actionable intelligence on Pakistani military deployments using a combination of HUMINT and TECHINT capabilities. Over 15 Years in R&AW: Deep Domain Expertise Parag Jain is currently the second-most senior officer in R&AW, directly reporting to the chief, and oversees several high-stakes operational and intelligence divisions. With over 15 years in the agency, he has built deep expertise in: Stints In Canada, Sri Lanka & J&K: Global Intel Exposure Jain's international assignments include a critical posting in Ottawa, Canada, where he monitored radical Sikh diaspora groups and worked to infiltrate separatist networks. He was later stationed in Sri Lanka during its 2022 economic crisis, witnessing regime change and political upheaval—giving him firsthand operational experience in high-volatility foreign environments. Back home, he has served in Jammu and Kashmir, contributing significantly to the Centre's counter-terrorism strategy, especially in the post-Article 370 security restructuring of the Union Territory. Grassroots Policing To Strategic Ops: A Dual Lens Before his R&AW tenure, Jain held several key policing roles across Punjab, including as Senior Superintendent of Police in Chandigarh, DIG Ludhiana Range, and postings in Bhatinda, Mansa, and Hoshiarpur. His deep familiarity with Punjab's ground-level security dynamics, especially amid the legacy of militancy, gives him a unique advantage in handling transnational threats with regional roots. Jain was empanelled for senior central postings and granted DGP rank benefits effective January 1, 2021, further underscoring his standing within the national security hierarchy. Why His Appointment Matters Parag Jain's elevation comes at a time of rising strategic challenges for India's external intelligence community—ranging from cross-border terrorism and Khalistani revivalism to China-Pakistan coordination, and evolving hybrid warfare. With a rare combination of ground policing experience, foreign intelligence postings, and technical reconnaissance leadership, Jain is expected to bring sharper focus and operational depth to R&AW's mission during a geopolitically sensitive period. First Published: June 28, 2025, 15:23 IST
Hans India
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Puri soaked in religious fervour as Rath Yatra begins
Puri: Religious fervour gripped the pilgrim town of Puri as the grand Rath Yatra commenced on Friday with the holy triad -- Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra -- stepping out of their sanctum sanctorum in the divine 'Pahandi' ritual. In a convergence of devotion, over 10 lakh devotees gathered in Puri to witness the Rath Yatra. Thousands of people pulled the ropes attached with chariots of Lord Jagannath and his siblings on the Grand Road from near the 12th-century shrine here towards Shree Gundicha temple, around 2.6 km away. Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and several other dignitaries were among those who pulled the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra. Amid chanting of 'Jai Jagannath' and 'Hari Bol', beating of cymbals and blowing of trumpets and conch shells, the 'Taladhwaja' chariot of Lord Balabhadra first started rolling at 4.08 pm. It was followed by Devi Subhadra's 'Darpadalana' chariot and finally Lord Jagannath's 'Nandighosha'. While the devotees were pulling the chariots, the priests surrounded the deities on the chariots as the procession made its way through the Grand Road of this temple town. While thousands of people pulled chariots, lakhs of others also reached the seaside temple town to participate in the festival. The chariot pulling started after Puri's titular king, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, performed 'Chhera Pahanra' (sweeping of chariots) on all three chariots. Wooden horses of different colours were fitted on three chariots before they were pulled by the devotees. Earlier, the trinity, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath, ascended their respective chariots after over two-hour long ceremonial 'Pahandi' ritual. During 'Pahandi', the three wooden idols were carried to the chariots from the 12th-century Jagannath temple. Odissi dancers, folk artistes, music players and many other groups drawn from different parts of the State performed before the idols. The Shankaracharya of Govardhan Peeth, Swami Nischalananda Saraswati, along with selected disciples, visited the three chariots after the deities were placed on them. The 81-year-old seer came near the chariots in a wheelchair. The Shankaracharya's visit is also part of the Rath Yatra rituals. Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Puri MP Sambit Patra, Odisha ministers and several others witnessed the ceremonial Pahandi, one of the major attractions of Rath Yatra in Puri. The festival is being held amid unprecedented security arrangements with deployment of around 10,000 personnel of Odisha Police, Central Armed Police Force, NSG and others. 'We have made all possible arrangements for smooth conduct of Rath Yatra,' DGP Y B Khurania told reporters, adding that over 275 AI-enabled CCTV cameras were installed to keep a watch on the crowd. ADGP (Law and Order) Sanjay Kumar said the arrangements are made in view of some information following the Pahalgam terror attack. 'Several Central government agencies are collaborating with Odisha Police, including NSG snipers, Coast Guard drones and anti-drone systems. Canine teams and Odisha's anti-sabotage units are also engaged in duty here,' he said.
