Latest news with #operating
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Bharuch NREGA scam investigators detain Gujarat Congress VP
Surat: Gujarat Congress vice-president Hira Jotva was detained by a Bharuch police team investigating the Rs. 7.3 crore NREGA scam. The Bharuch superintendent of police formed a 10-member SIT under a deputy superintendent of police. According to sources, the SIT found that both agencies involved in the scam had links with Jotva. Police may arrest Jotva on Friday if he is found to be involved in the scam. The scam affected 56 villages in Hansot, Amod and Jambusar talukas of Bharuch where two agencies were entrusted with contracts for road and other construction works under the National Rural Employment Guarantee (NREGA) scheme. The agencies siphoned off money with the help of local officials by submitting forged bills. They also did not use the materials specified by the govt in the standard operating procedure (SOP). Both agencies involved bore the address of Supasi village, which is Jotva's village. On Thursday morning, Bharuch LCB police reached the office of Jotva at Supasi village in Gir-Somnath district's Veraval taluka. They detained him and left for Bharuch to question him. "We had booked Piyush Ratilal Nukani, the proprietor of Jalaram Enterprise and Jodha Naran Sabhad, the owner of Murlidhar Enterprise in the Rs. 7.3 crore MNREGA scam. We suspect these accused are just faces and the agencies were operated by Jotva. We will question him over his role in the agencies and may arrest him if he cannot answer our questions satisfactorily," said an officer. Jotva is a senior Congress leader and is a vice-president in the Gujarat Congress. He contested the Junagadh Lok Sabha seat against BJP's Rajesh Chudasama in 2024 and lost. He served as sarpanch of Supasi village from 1991 to 2004. In 2023, he also contested elections from Keshod but lost. He has served at various posts in the Congress since 1995.
Malaysiakini
6 days ago
- General
- Malaysiakini
Higher education institutions urged to comply with SOP after student's death
The Higher Education Ministry has reminded public and private higher education institutions to always comply with the standard operating procedures (SOP) set by their respective universities as an ongoing measure to strengthen the safety and welfare aspects of students. The ministry said compliance is crucial to ensure that the security and welfare of students are always at the optimum level.
New Straits Times
24-06-2025
- New Straits Times
Border agency investigating claims of officers involved in KLIA 'phantom travel' syndicate
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency says it is investigating claims that some of its officers colluded with the 'phantom travel' syndicate operating at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), as reported by a news portal. In a statement today, the agency said it takes the matter seriously. "Following the report, AKPS (the agency) has initiated further investigations into allegations that certain officers may have colluded with the syndicate by failing to record the entry movements of visitors at the country's entry points, in violation of standard operating procedures (SOP). "These acts were allegedly carried out in exchange for payments, allowing the visitors to avoid detection by their employers. "AKPS will not compromise or protect any officer who violates integrity and tarnishes the reputation of the agency. "Action will be taken in accordance with existing laws, including dismissal, if the officer is found guilty," the statement said. The agency said it continues to work closely with the Home Affairs Ministry and Immigration Department to improve visitor screening, particularly at KLIA. "With the full implementation of autogate systems for exit clearance, the development of the National Integrated Immigration System (NIISe), and the use of AI technology, AKPS is confident that issues such as counter setting, flying passports, and phantom travel involving officers can be reduced and eliminated." The agency urged the public to report any misconduct involving its officers via email at or in person at its Integrity Unit at Level 5, Setia Perkasa 7, Setia Perkasa Complex, Putrajaya. In a recently published report, the syndicate is alleged to involve government staff flying abroad without their travel details being recorded in the immigration system — a practice known as 'phantom travels'.
Mint
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Explosives used without alert ahead of Yogi Adityanath's Bahraich visit. BJP MLA flags ‘serious security lapse'
Two days ahead of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's proposed visit to Bahraich, a company authorised by the Union Petroleum Ministry allegedly used large quantity of explosives for drilling without informing the local administration, officials said. Local BJP MLA Surveshvar Singh termed the incident a 'serious security lapse' and demanded cancellation of the chief minister's visit. Sub-Divisional Magistrate Alok Prasad told news agency PTI that Alpha Geo India Limited was assigned the task of drilling and surveying for oil and gas deposits by the Petroleum Ministry. The firm used ammonium nitrate explosives for the survey. Though the company was carrying out government-sanctioned work, it failed to follow the standard operating procedures (SOP) and did not inform the local administration, he said. This caused panic among villagers and resentment among the public representatives. Upon receiving information, police and administrative staff reached the site and initiated an inquiry, the SDM added. He said that around 200 employees of the company were working in different shifts across multiple villages, most of whom are from West Bengal and face a language barrier with the locals. To ensure their safety amid growing tension, all employees were brought to the Hardi police station, he added. Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural) Durga Prasad Tiwari said the company had drilled up to 30 metres underground using ammonium nitrate without prior intimation to villagers or authorities. "Today, around 50-60 employees deployed on the field were called to the police station for questioning. No one has been detained so far. The decision on filing an FIR will be taken after further inquiry," he said. Raising alarm, Mahsi MLA Sureshvar Singh said with the chief minister scheduled to visit on Tuesday, the presence of hundreds of outsiders and 500 kilograms of explosives in the district is highly concerning. "Intelligence reports have warned of possible infiltration by 47 terrorists through the Indo-Nepal border. Imagine the security risk at an event where the chief minister and possibly the Prime Minister will be present, commemorating Maharaja Suheldev, he said. The MLA said he had spoken to the state's Principal Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad and urged him to cancel the chief minister's visit until the matter is fully resolved. This is a serious security lapse. Kuldeep Sharma, a representative of Alpha Geo India Limited, admitted to the lapse. "We had informed the concerned authorities back in February. However, we should have informed them again before commencing work involving explosives. Since today was Sunday, we proceeded without intimation, which was a mistake," he told the news agency PTI.
New Indian Express
27-05-2025
- Climate
- New Indian Express
Odisha: Soil cave-in at tunnel 4 of Khurdha-Balangir rail line
BHUBANESWAR/BERHAMPUR : A soil cave-in at tunnel no 4 of the ongoing Khurda-Balangir rail project in Boudh district was reported on Monday after the area witnessed continuous rainfall for the last few days. No one was injured in the mishap. The incident happened in Adenigarh area of Harabhanga block in Boudh. The tunnel measures over 4 km in length and is one of the longest in the state. Sources said a minor part of soil overburden caved in at the site, causing a pit. The area around the tunnel has since been cordoned off to prevent further mishaps. The ECoR authorities termed it a minor soil cave-in and clarified it occurred due to loose soil following rain and there has been no impact on manpower or machinery due to the incident. They stated that this will in no way affect the overall progress of the project. 'All necessary safety measures are in place, and the project work continues as planned,' an official spokesperson of ECoR said. Meanwhile, president of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Bhakta Charan Das blamed on lack was monitoring and said standard operating procedure (SOP) was not followed. Das said the responsibility should be taken by the railway minister in the case. He said that the Congress will send a fact finding team to the place tomorrow.
