India launches a web portal to bring dead bodies of Indian citizens from abroad
Rashmi Talwar
AMRITSAR 28th Sep 2023—-
Requests for bringing dead bodies of Indian nationals can now be made on an online web portal https://ecare.mohfw.gov.in/. The e-CARe portal was launched by the Union Ministry for requisitioning dead bodies of expatriate Indians from abroad. In such cases the petitioners can directly submit their requests on the portal informed Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Mr. Amit Talwar.
As many as 2 million Indians live in Canada; Around 4 million Indians reside in America; 1.8 million in the UK, 2 lakhs in Germany, 38 lakhs in UAE, and 7 lakhs in Australia. In many nations, Indians make up about 2-3 percent of the total population in countries where their population concentration is high.
The Amritsar Deputy Commissioner said that the Indian Immigrant Affairs Department (Punjab) has issued a letter to the departments to inform, and broad base the information about this portal to help near and dear ones. He said that the purpose of this portal was to bring the dead bodies of Indians to their homeland without any hindrance or delay through a smooth process in case of death abroad. In such cases, people can submit their requests on the portal. The requests would be coordinated nationwide through Deputy Commissioners.
Highly placed Intelligence sources reveal- “It was noticed that earlier aggrieved parents and relatives made fervent appeals and requests to private persons to bring dead bodies of dear and near ones to India. the expense was borne by affluent Indians or a network abroad, in the garb of doing social service. the said person, persons, or network then created a battery of followers in India and abroad. Thereafter in some cases, these large chunks of followers from a particular region were used for political gains, tilts, and manipulations during electoral processes and at places of protests against ruling parties, government policies, and other grievances to pressurize governments.
A senior intelligence officer said this was done for a two-pronged reason. “To bring the dead back to their soil was very much in consonance with an Indian act of true and right Karma of honoring the dead. The second reason was to stall a conduit from which a feeling of gratefulness is converted into lifelong slavery where the person/ persons out of gratitude do acts that are inimical to Nation building”.
After Tihar Jail, cutting edge 5G Network Jammers in Amritsar Central Jail
Rashmi Talwar
After Tihar Jail, cutting edge 5G Network Jammers in Amritsar Central Jail
Center gives nod for jammers to be operative from 10th June
Rashmi Talwar
AMRITSAR June 3, 2023—-
The Amritsar Central Jail will become the first jail in Punjab to install Hi-fi 5G network jammer Technology, in its prison premises. The cutting-edge Jammer technology is only installed in New Delhi’s Central Tihar Jail. Amritsar will thus be the second in the country to adopt the new technology.
Amritsar Central Jail is merely 20 Km from the International Border (IB) in this sector. It was detected that a part of the vigorous multi-crore drug trade as well as the smuggling of arms and ammunition was being operated from jail premises of this district bordering Pakistan. Presently, advanced drone technology had intensified the drug smuggling racket with drug hauls seized in Kilograms instead of grammes, worth millions in the International markets.
“Drones have become game-changers in the drug trade with up to 10 Kgs drops in a single drone sortie”, revealed a senior defense official. Arms and Ammunition smuggling is another lucrative illegal trade being carried on. Alongside, are other comparatively lesser crimes like the land, sand, transport, assassination, and other mafias that facilitate and fund illegal activities including terror funding, and drug smuggling; are being controlled and masterminded from the jail premises via mobile phones. In order to break this communication network by the criminals, being run from inside the jail, jammer installations started with 2G to 3G mobile networks in the jails of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.
However, despite earlier jammer systems, mobile phones were seized in huge quantities in Punjab jails along the Indo-Pak border. At present Punjab has 25 jails including 7 Central Jails, Jammu &Kashmir with 15 Jails. Seizing mobiles from jail inmates meant network jammers were ‘ineffective’ and were being ‘bypassed’ to operate mobiles in jail premises.
However, with this new technology, Jammers which are undergoing a testing period, will become fully functional from June 10.
Incidentally, this system called the “ Harmonious Call Blocking System” (THBS), is installed in Delhi’s Tihar Jail. The Punjab government was guided by Union Home Ministry to take this step. Jammers were installed earlier in 3-jails of Punjab, but they were of 2G-3G level. They were not able to jam the network of 5G technology. Taking advantage of this, gangsters and smugglers ran nefarious networks from jails.
Amritsar Central Jail Superintendent Surinder Singh said that after the installation of jammers in the jail, the mobiles of the security personnel in the jail would also be switched off. Security personnel will transmit any information to each other through walkie-talkies. The WiFi facility will be available only in one place and that is in the superintendent’s office. Apart from this, no one’s mobile will operate. This facility will be provided to the superintendent so that information about any government orders can reach his office.
THBS, is an advanced mobile jammer technology installed in the jail premises. The tower installed in the jail premises will jam any incoming or outgoing call operations, and not transmit to other towers. The company installing and fitting the jammers is also keeping in sight that the network of people outside the jail premises does not get affected by it. It is expected that with this device, the crime graph of a significant spread of the area will reduce and come under the control of security agencies. Earlier Criminals were openly talking to the jail inmates and other staff.
Effect on areas around jails
Jammers are known to be more effective in open areas. Due to this, it is expected that Network problems will be felt in residential areas around the jails. The jammers that will be installed in the jails of Punjab and Jammu Kashmir will block 2G to 5G networks. People may have to install Wi-Fi in their homes and offices near jails to operate and communicate on mobile phones and laptops besides other devices.
Administration active after ransom calls from jail and gang wars
After increasing occurrences of extortion, threatening incidents, gang wars, gangsters, and frequent drug trafficking incidents came to the fore in the jails of Punjab, the need for advanced technology jammers was sorely being felt. From June 10th onwards, from the police administration to the jail administration, mobile ringing in jails will be a rarity. Alongside, a separate control room would be set up in the jail to control jammers, wherein jail administration will keep control. It will also be insured that the jammers cannot be switched on or off from jail premises with the connivance of the jail personnel, facilitating criminals to communicate outside. This is expected to curb and break the networks of jailed gangsters, drug smugglers, criminals, and anti-socials.
Mobiles were recovered frequently from the prisoners and lock-ups in the Amritsar jails every day. Because of this notorious gangsters and drug smugglers sitting in jail operated and controlled a network of crimes by colleagues sitting outside. After the jammers become operative even if an inmate possesses a mobile phone in the jail, it will remain just a dummy due to jammers.
Metal rings and luminous tapes in Drug smuggled consignments
Metal rings and luminous tapes in Drug smuggled consignments
8Kg Heroin, seized from notorious Kakkar border village
Rashmi Talwar
Kakkar, Amritsar 28th April 2023—–.
Since the wee hours, the Border Security Forces were on high alert. It had specific information about a drone sortie from across the border at village Kakkar lining the Indo-Pak border in the Amritsar Sector.
Vigorous search operations were launched at the crack of dawn by the BSF. On the outskirts of the bordering village of Kakkar, falling in District Amritsar, BSF troops finally spotted 5-packets, allegedly possessing narcotics, identified by the luminous tapes attached to them. They were packed together as a single consignment and had metal rings on top, secured to the waterproof packing. The gross weight of the consignment was 8 Kg. According to a senior official of the BSF –“The consignment appears to have been dropped by a rogue drone”.
Queried over the find, he said –“There are metal rings on each of the consignments used to hang drug packets on the drone. The payload is then unlocked and released from a height. As many as eight luminous strips were found to be attached to the consignment. These strips help the smugglers to locate the consignment in the dark .” And laughed while further commenting – “It’s strange that they think that the luminous strips would be visible ‘only to smugglers and couriers’, the BSF too, gets help to intercept contraband packets via these very luminous strips!” The seizure today was worth about Rs 56 Crores in the international market.
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Kakkar Border Village
Kakkar village, merely 25 Km from Amritsar city, is fenced with barbed wire on the Indian side. Although Kakkar, means robust, the word stirs in the memory of famous surnames lately having gained worldwide recognition like ace singer Neha Kakkar, Tony and Sonu Kakkar of the Kakkar singer family, Prahlad Kakkar- a noted ad film director; but unlike the famous personalities probably connected to this neck of the woods, this village on the borderline caught the limelight via its smuggling activities.
Sitting on the East of the bloody Radcliff line, the 1947’s Indo Pak Partition tore apart not just the people, their hearts, and territories; but the partition also created a nursery for illegal trade, smuggling, and spies along the International Border. From the nook for infiltration of spies, gold, arms, ammunition, terrorists, and fake currency, Kakkar has graduated to become the hub of a narcotic smuggling racket.
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Sophisticated Drones
· Last year as many as six instances saw the use of DJI series of sophisticated Drones worth Rs20 lakh each in market value, used for cross-border smuggling along the International Border (IB). This sophisticated high-end series possesses high-tech features including long-lasting battery backup, and infra-red based night vision cameras. This year the trend of sophisticated drones is expected to turn into an alarming number.
· In November last year the BSF women personnel shot down the largest drone flown from the Pakistan side which measured 7 feet across and weighed 19 Kg. The drone was carrying 6.5 Kg of heroin.
· In the year 2022, As many as 22 drones were captured and 316 Kg of drugs were seized.
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Smuggling Advantage: Faulty Fence
· Kakkar-Ranian border villages sitting close to each other on the IB, have been continuously in the news for the wrongly placed barbed wire fencing that created security gaps along the Indo-Pak border. At least 2,750 acres of land that belongs to India stood divided as the fence which begins from border pillar no. 95\\\/5S to pillar no. 95\\\/7G was positioned over 1 km ahead of the zero line between India and Pakistan.
· With this lapse, the stretch became a favorite spot for infiltrators and drug smugglers which proved a headache for security agencies too, as this 2,000-acre stretch proved difficult to man via night vigil with limited lighting arrangements.
· The security loophole area of this village is merrily being used by smugglers to throw in drugs from the Pak side since Indian farmers leave the fields by 4 pm, and “If some Pakistani smuggler sneaks in drugs or other illegal material, the Indian owner is taken to task”, said a farmer.
· Village smugglers also take advantage of this lacunae. Instances of huge quantity of seizure of contraband from tractor drawbars of farmers on the Indian side, worth nearly Rs 20 Crores, in the twin villages of Kakkar- Ranian, also caught news headlines.
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Drug Seizure Highlights of Kakkar
· In mid-January this year, a 6-wing assembled drone with USA & China-made parts carrying 5kg heroin was shot down in Kakkar.
· In late January, police seized 5 kg heroin, and Rs 12.15 lakh in drug money from Rashpal Singh Pala a known drug smuggler of Kakkar. The seizure came through a trail left by two drug smugglers arrest in the busting of an elaborate trans-border drug racket recovering 10 kg of heroin in village Thattha near Kakkar.
· In February, a 17yr old was arrested with 15kg heroin and Rs 8.50 lakh in cash who was about to deliver a huge consignment with the help of one Resham Singh which he retrieved from a drone dropping in village Kakkar. The family of the teenager is deeply entrenched in the business of drug smuggling as his grandfather and father are in jail under the NDPS Act.
German Military Hospital permits lone Indian doctor for prestigious AO Foundation fellowship
Rashmi Talwar
Amritsar 15thMarch 2023 —–
The Military Hospital Ulm, University of Ulm, Germany, accepted Dr. Nitin Verma, the first Indian doctor after a gap following the covid19 pandemic years, for the prestigious AO CMF Foundation fellowship. The Amritsar-based Dr. Nitin Verma Prof and Head, Punjab Government Dental College and Hospital Amritsar was the first selectee in 2022, after covid19, out of a total of 75 selectees, the world over.
He is the only doctor from the country, selected for the prestigious AO Foundation fellowship program, after the year 2019.
The selected fellow, Dr. Verma after his return to India last month elaborated his experience of the fellowship program that lasted for six weeks, to ‘Kashmir Images’-“Imagine where militaries world-over are so secretive and protective over their facilities and programs, their techniques and usage, a German Military Hospital openly displayed all its latest techniques in the field of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, to enhance patient care in developing countries”. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in other words is a highly specialized, sensitive plastic surgery after trauma dealing with a facial correction due to cancer or accident or disease, or some other reason for facial reconstruction.
In 30 years, the 496-bedded Military Hospital in Ulm has been a medical center of competence for the armed forces of south Germany with key aspects of activities being trauma care, orthopedics, angiologists / vascular surgery, and craniofacial surgery.
While elaborating on the fellowship program, Dr. Verma who won the fellowship and underwent training and experience under the supervision of Professor Dr. Dr. Alexander Schramm, MD DDS PhD; explains- “AO CMF Foundation’ stands for –‘A world of Opportunities (AO)’ created by 13 visionary surgeons, 60 years back.”
Laying bare his extraordinary experience in the Military hospital, Dr. Verma gave two outstanding examples of cranium Maxillofacial surgery- “I could call them the ultimate surgical techniques, which could fast pace us in India at least 50 years ahead. One was –“The eyeball lift, operating from the floor of the eyeball. The second was the ‘free fabula graft’ surgery where the bone and tissues are taken from the leg to replicate the jaw bone, for instance after a cancerous surgery or deformation due to accident or disease.
Dr. Verma has a close Kashmiri connection. He is born to a Kashmiri mother Nancy Kalpushu, so he belongs to two neighbouring states of India, Jammu &Kashmir and Punjab. Talking about Ulm, he said –“The city founded around 850, is rich in history and traditions, as a former Free Imperial City in the federal German state of Baden-Württemberg on River Danube. Ulm, is best known for being the birthplace of one of the greatest Physicist Albert Einstein marked by a memorial at the site of his house in Bahnhofstrabe; however, the house and the whole district were destroyed in the firebombing of 1944, and then restored.
Ulm, as an ancient settlement is also known for the old ‘Fischerviertel’ or the fishermen’s quarter, on River Blau, with half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets, picturesque footbridges, the ‘Schiefes Haus’ or the ‘crooked house’ and the ‘Alte Münz’ or the Old Mint, an astronomical clock dating from 1520 that still chimes in this city hosting – AO – A world of Opportunity!
As many as 75 top doctors are chosen from 124 countries annually for hands-on training and exposure to new techniques for enhanced patient care by the University of Ulm, under AO Fellowship program.
Cyber-gang creates cyber-hub in border district to swindle pan-world customers
Rashmi Talwar
Tarn Taran, February 2, 2023 – Tarn Taran, a neighbouring district of Amritsar on the Indo-Pak border, once a hotbed of militancy came under the lens, with the busting of a unique model of a cyber-gang, systematically and blatantly operating from hotel premises.
On getting the tip-off, the Tarn Taran police swooped on a hotel named ‘Seven Star Hotel and Restaurant’ and busted a 50-member gang of cyber-swindlers allegedly defrauding foreigners by compiling their e-mail identities and other details.
SSP Tarn Taran Gurmeet S Chauhan while taking to ‘Kashmir Images’ revealed that the police had got a solid tip-off about the nefarious activities of the gang from a local source. “They had rented out three rooms and occupied the lower conference hall of the hotel on rent and set up an authentic looking cyber-hub where operations of swindling were carried out, on a connected and mass scale, while they stated and pretended it was a ‘Computer Training’ program going on”, he added.
The hotel authorities when questioned by the police and the cyber sleuths, said that the group had booked the premises and set up the computers on the pretext of computer training, and had got the computers in a truck. The gang had also installed its VICI dial software system, in the hall where more than 60 computers were under operation.
The gang was dealing with clients/ persons in the USA, the UK, Canada, and other countries as its customers. Interestingly the gang members introduced themselves as employees of ‘The Department of Work and Pension’ with the National Insurance Company. They collected the e-mail IDs of customers and using it interacted with the insurance company and with a ‘swapping technique’ got money transferred in their own bank accounts.
Police and the cybercrime branch raided the premises and took 63 computers installed in different locations of the hotel into custody. The SSP added that three suspected members of the gang were detained and an investigation was on. Along with fraud, the gang has been booked under the IT Act. The border district is also notorious for drug smuggling and drone dropping of arms and ammunition from across the border.
Turkish,Chinese pistols ‘delivered via drone’ seized with 2kg drugs in Amritsar
Rashmi Talwar
AMRITSAR-29th November 2022-
For the first time, Turkish pistols were recovered in Punjab’s border district. It was a case of Narco-Terrorism wherein a known smuggler was apprehended in connection with contraband comprising a cache of drugs, but also foreign-made pistols and ammunition.
Punjab Police’s special task force (STF) arrested notorious smuggler, Paramjit Singh alias Pamma, recovering eight hi-tech pistols with a whopping 2- Kilograms of heroin. These were suspected to be delivered through a drone from Pakistan. Pamma resident of Hawelian village of border Tarn Taran district was arrested from the Meerakot-Kherbad road following intelligence inputs.
According to STF, the illegal consignment was collected from the border by another smuggler and then handed over to Pamma. Among the Hi-Tech pistols, include two of the ‘Glock brand’ manufactured in Turkey. Six of the eight pistols recovered are Chinese-made, dropped on the intervening night of November 25-26, via drones.
DSP Amritsar Vavinder Mahajan claimed-“It is for the first time Turkish ‘Glock brand’ pistols were seized from Punjab’s border belt. These hi-tech pistols have the capability of firing a 30-bullet burst in nanoseconds, causing extensive damage.
According to STF, Pamma was on his way to deliver the heroin consignment to a contact when he was pounced upon at the Meerakot road near Amritsar Airport and arrested.
While investigations are underway to identify cross-border smugglers who delivered the contraband to Pamma, the seized mobile phones sent for forensic examination will provide vital clues about the cross-border links of smugglers from Pakistan.
Pamma, a notorious smuggler has been remanded to four days police custody. Pamma already has two criminal cases related to the smuggling of weapons and fake currency pending against him in Haryana. Over a year ago, he was released on bail from Hisar jail. Another tarnished smuggler Kuldeep Singh of Haryana, met him in the Hisar jail, about seven years ago and is now settled in Dubai, is suspected to be a part of the operation.
Pamma is also a cousin of Iqbal Shera, the prime suspect in the 532-kg heroin and other narcotics seizure, hidden in a rock-salt consignment imported from Lahore,Pakistan in 2020.
The consignment of a 532-kg heroine from Lahore-based firm Global Vision Impex was seized in Feb-2020 and was meant for Amritsar importer Gurpinder Singh Babbar.
Kashmiri smugglers and political and bureaucratic linked smugglers in Pakistan were involved in this mega seizure from Wagah –Attari border in Amritsar two years back.
NIA investigations then established that an international conspiracy involving nationals of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India were linked with Punjab, J&K, and Delhi gangs, to bring consignments of narcotics to India.
These gangs appeared to be carrying out a vast network of hawala and terror-funding activities.It may be mentioned that Turkey is increasingly exposing itself as a close ally of Pakistan along with China, on the international horizon.
‘The Opium Toffee’ – by Khushwant Singh, the Author interacts with Amritsar Univ students
Rashmi Talwar
Amritsar, November 13, 2022 — Khushwant Singh, renowned writer, dwelt at length on his latest novel The Opium Toffee which unfolds a story of the troubled times of 1980s in Punjab.
During an interaction with students of Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar, the author said writing was a therapeutic force for various traumas people might be carrying, especially in times of turmoil.
Apart from being a story about drug addiction and illegal human trafficking, the novel talks about people, especially those in their early youth, trapped between the two contending forces—militants and security agencies. “It does throw some light on the situation in Jammu Kashmir, just as in the novel during the militancy in Punjab”, a senior faculty member commented upon the simile.
In the book, the main character finds his way back through the love of his life. The story probes the atmosphere of toxic patriarchy in certain orthodox quarters which came in the way of young women struggling to fulfill their ambitions, especially stuck in times of turmoil and thereafter in the atmosphere of drug addiction. Singh’s earlier novel Maharaja in Denims, employing the device of past life regression, is also an interesting story of Punjabi youth trying to survive that difficult phase of the State.
He narrated some interesting anecdotes about confusion arising out of his sharing his name with Khushwant Singh the renowned writer known for his book “Train to Pakistan”. Dr. Yubee Gill, Head, of the Department of English, GNDU moderated the session.
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Author can be reached at rashmitalwarno1@gmail.com
AMRITSAR 26th October 2022—- Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar today offered prayers at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami extended a warm welcome to the dignitaries on their arrival. The VP was accompanied by his wife Sudesh Dhankhar, daughter, and grandson.
Amid tight security, the VP undertook the circumambulation or parikrama of the Golden Temple along with his family and sat for a few minutes to listen to the Gurbani Kirtan. It was the VP’s maiden visit to Amritsar after becoming the 14th Vice President of India, recently.
The Vice President and his family partook the ‘langar’ (community kitchen) while sitting in the ‘pangat’ or queue and later, performed ‘sewa’ or service of cleaning the dishes at Sri Guru Ram Dass, Langar Hall.
In the visitors’ book, the Vice President wrote-“Blessed to have visited Darbar Sahib today. The peace, serenity, devotion, and sense of service here is an unforgettable experiences. A glowing symbol of the sublime spiritual tradition of our great Gurus, Harmandir Sahib has been emanating the message of love, humanity, compassion, and brotherhood through eyes.”
The VP was honoured with a replica of the Golden Temple along with ‘siropa’ the holy symbolic shawl.
On the occasion, the SGPC President took the opportunity to submit a memorandum to the Vice President, urging him to use his good offices for the release of ‘Bandi Sikhs’ -Political Prisoners, languishing in various jails of the country despite completing their sentences.
Dhami said the issue was ‘most important for the community and the center needs to look at it from the point of justice as each of the prisoners have completed their jail sentences and are legally eligible for release.
Despite attempts, last month by the SGPC to submit the memorandum of demands for the early release of political detainees to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, their request for a meeting on this, was declined by the union ministry.
The Vice President also visited the Jallianwala Bagh and paid homage to martyrs of Pre-Independence India that included all communities, including Kashmiri Muslims, who were gunned down Bloody Baisakhi Day April 13 of year 1919, by the Britisher Gen O’Dawyer and proved a turning point in India’s freedom struggle.
The Vice President also visited the Ram Tirath Temple- the historic abode where Sita Mata took shelter at the hermitage of Rishi Valmiki who wrote the Epic Ramayan and where the twin sons of Lord Ram and Sita – Luv and Kush, were born. The cities of Lahore and Kasur respectively, now in Pakistan, were named after the twin sons of Lord Ram.
The Vice President also visited the Durgiana Mandir- the Hindu Temple architecturally a replica of the Golden Temple; about 25 Kms from Ram Tirath – the Durgiana houses the historic mandir where Lord Hanuman was tied to a tree, by the teenage twins Luv and Kush- the sons of Lord Ram and Sita.
SGPC arranges flight, 55 Afghan Sikhs, Hindus welcomed in India, 43 still stuck
Rashmi Talwar
AMIRTSAR 27 Sep 2022—
Fifty-Five Sikhs and Hindus of Afghanistan, including 38 adults, 14 children, and three infants, were evacuated via a special aircraft organized by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Amritsar, safely to India. The flight was operated by Ariana Afghan- the Afghan carrier.
The Sikh and Hindu afghans stranded in Afghanistan were welcomed heartily by members of SGPC and AAP MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney Rajya Sabha at Delhi Airport. Sahney thanked both the Ministry of External Affairs GoI and the SGPC for their facilitation.
Welcoming families, MP Sahney also president of the ‘World Punjabi Organisation’, said –“Ministry of External Affairs had granted them e-visas and repatriation was facilitated by both the governments. However, four ‘saroops’ of Sri Guru Granth Sahib- the holy books of Sikhs, still remain in Afghanistan. Due to lack of cooperation from the local administration in Kabul, the books could not be transferred to India as per religious protocol,” he added.
The evacuated Afghan Sikh refugees thanked the government of India and PM Narendra Modi for providing fast e-visas and safely evacuating them.
“We would like to thank the Indian government for providing us with urgent visas and helping us to reach India. We are 55 families who were able to reach India, but many of us still have families left behind as around 40 and more people are still stranded in Afghanistan. They have been issued visas from the Indian government, but it is their wish now if they want to return or not,” Sukhbeer Singh Khalsa, Afghan Sikh refugee said.
Talking about the prevailing circumstances after the takeover by the Taliban “The condition of minorities is not very well in Afghanistan. I was imprisoned for four months. Taliban cut our hair in prison. I am thankful and happy to return to India,” said an Afghan Sikh, Baljeet Singh.
Puneet Singh Chandhok, president, Indian World Forum (IWF), said, “SGPC in coordination with IWF, Government of India (GoI) facilitated the evacuation of distressed minorities from the Taliban governed the Islamic nation. Earlier, as many as 68 Afghan Hindus and Sikhs arrived in Delhi following the attack at Gurudwara Karte Parwan in Kabul. The airfare for the same is being borne by SGPC. Significantly, more than 300 fled from Afghanistan and arrived in India since the Taliban took over Kabul.”
Around 43 Hindus and Sikhs remain in Afghanistan and about ten e-visa applications were pending with the government of India.
The AAP MP also promised to rehabilitate the evacuees under their program “MyFamilyMyResponsibilty”, in a tweet.
Raj Gill President of the woman’s wing Punjab AAP, in an emotive message, wrote “None of us can honestly grasp the level of tragedy they have gone through. People escaping violence must be able to cross borders safely. They must not face discrimination or be unfairly denied refugee status or asylum due to their race, or religion. Thank you for accepting them.”
Viral Newspaper Clip of ‘German Times’ report on Punjab CM being deplaned turns to be a second hoax
Rashmi Talwar
AMRITSAR 20 Sep. 22—
Amidst a political storm caused by reports of alleged “de-boarding of Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann by a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt Germany to India”- a viral newspaper clip of German Times with the headline “Drunk Bhagwant Mann thrown out of Plane” written by Daniel Schutz, turned out to be a second hoax. The clip is actively being circulated on social media and reinforcing the truth in the tale, of the alleged drunkenness of CM leading to him being deplaned along with his protocol entourage, and causing a delay of 4-hours to the Delhi-bound Frankfurt flight.
The first hoax seems to be of a Blue-Tick-marked Journalist Aman Malik who carried a tweet this morning, purportedly from a passenger on the Lufthansa flight, what he claimed to be an eye-witness account. The language of the eyewitness on the tweet seemed to be that of a seasoned media person or a PR, similar to the language used by the first reports on this incident, carried by an online newspaper, that broke the story. The tweet was quickly deleted by the journalist, sensing it to be a hoax. The journalist is now carrying just a retweet of the report of the online paper, but the damage had been done. The tweet is going viral since afternoon today.
Meantime, amid allegations against Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for being deplaned from a flight in Germany for “being intoxicated”, Lufthansa Airlines, issued clarification regarding the 4-hour delay of its Delhi-Frankfurt flight.
“Lufthansa News”, in a statement, said that the Frankfurt to Delhi flight departed later than its scheduled time due to a delayed inbound flight and an aircraft change. In response to a user asking about the flight delay, Lufthansa News tweeted, “Our flight from Frankfurt to Delhi departed later than originally planned due to a delayed inbound flight and an aircraft change.” However, the airline is learned to have cited the privacy of passengers and denied any information on whether anyone was deplaned from the Lufthansa’s Delhi-bound flight from Frankfurt.
In another turn of events according to the Indiatoday report-“ The Ministry of Civil Aviation is purportedly going to probe allegations- “Whether Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was deplaned from a Delhi-bound flight at Frankfurt airport in Germany because he was “drunk”.
Civil Aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia is reported to have said, “This was international soil. We will have to make sure we verify the facts. It is up to Lufthansa to provide data. I’ll certainly, based on the request sent to me, look into it.”
The Opposition parties- Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Punjab Congress had gone all out and alleged that Mann was barred from the Lufthansa flight because of being in an inebriated state.
All hell broke loose on social networking sites when the former Punjab Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal posted on his Twitter handle about “CM Punjab Bhagwant Mann being deplaned in Frankfurt, Germany allegedly for being drunk”. The online news clipping which the former CM quoted was already viral; carrying it as a tweet on his own handle, the information added fuel to the fire.
Former Punjab CM lets loose aspersions on Punjab CM of being deplaned in Germany, for being drunk
Social networking sites abuzz
Rashmi Talwar
AMRITSAR 19 Sep. 22–All hell broke loose on social networking sites with the former Punjab Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal posting this morning on his Twitter handle about “CM Punjab Bhagwant Mann being deplaned in Frankfurt, Germany allegedly for being drunk”.
Badal wrote – “Disturbing media reports quoting co-passengers say Pb CM @BhagwantMann was deplaned from Lufthansa flight as he was too drunk to walk. And it led to a 4-hour flight delay. He missed AAP’s national convention. These reports have embarrassed and shamed Punjabis all over the globe. ½.”
Sharing a screenshot of a write-up by Indianarrative.com, that reads –
“However, an Indian co-passenger, who did not wish to be named, on the same flight alleged in a communication with indianarrative.com that “the Chief Minister was not steady on his feet as he had consumed excessive alcohol and had to be supported by his wife and security personnel accompanying him. The passenger said the departure of the flight was delayed by over 4 hours as the luggage of the CM’s entourage which was loaded on the plane had to be taken off. Punjab government officials tried to prevail upon the Lufthansa flight crew not to deplane Mann as he had to attend many important meeting fixed on the next day but they refused to compromise on their flight safety rules, he added.”
Badal had tagged the twitter handles of major newspapers and media channels as well as news agency PTI and CM Mann along with Kejriwala and added in his second tweet– “Shockingly, Pb govt is mum over these reports involving their CM Bhagwant Mann. Arvind Kejriwala needs to come clean on this issue. Government of India must step in as this involves Punjabi & National pride. If he (Mann) was deplaned, GoI must raise the issue with its German counterpart. 2/2”.
Controversy has broken out last night, on whether Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was deplaned from a Delhi-bound Lufthansa flight in Frankfurt because he was not found fit to travel.
The report vigorously going viral since last night stated –“The Lufthansa website shows that the flight from Frankfurt was scheduled to depart at 1.40 PM (GMT+2) on Saturday and land in Delhi at 12.55 AM IST (GMT+5.30). However, the flight departed from Frankfurt at 5.52 PM (GMT+2) and landed in Delhi at 4.30 AM IST (GMT+5.30) today.
Chander Suta Dogra, director of media communications of AAP told the reporter of the website,- “The Chief Minister was a little unwell and would catch a flight from Frankfurt tonight to return back home,” and added that Mann at present is addressing an AAP conclave of all the party’s elected representatives being held in Delhi via video conferencing. She said all the national TV channels were showing him participating in the sammelan”.
The reports notes -” However, an Indian co-passenger, who did not wish to be named, on the same flight alleged in communication with indianarrative.com that “the Chief Minister was not steady on his feet as he had consumed excessive alcohol and had to be supported by his wife and security personnel accompanying him.”
The passenger is alleged to have said-“The departure of the flight was delayed by over 4 hours as the luggage of the CM’s entourage which was loaded on the plane had to be taken off. Punjab government officials tried to prevail upon the Lufthansa flight crew not to deplane Mann as he had to attend many important meetings fixed on the next day but they refused to compromise on their flight safety rules”, he added.
“Malwinder Singh Kang, AAP spokesman, Chandigarh dismissed the information about Mann having been deplaned since he was drunk as “bakwaas!” People keep saying so many “rubbish things”, he stressed and added that the CM would return in the next two or three days. “Navneet Wadhwa, media in-charge CM’s office said, “Mann Sahib will board a flight today evening (19th September) from Frankfurt around 4.30 PM (GMT+2) and land in Delhi tonight at around 1 AM (GMT+5.30), adding that as per the schedule available with him the CM was to remain in Germany till September 18. When the reporter questioned, Wadhwa answered- he would send the schedule but admitted that it did not mention any timings of the CM’s departure. Wadhwa did not send the schedule, till late evening yesterday till the filing of the online report.
It may be mentioned that CM Bhagwant Mann, had gone to Germany on September 11 and was to return on September 18. He visited Munich, Frankfurt, and Berlin and sought investments in Punjab. He attended the world’s leading trade fair, DRINKTECb 2022, and was accompanied by his wife and other senior officials besides security personnel.
60 Hindus, Sikhs stranded in Afghanistan, after Taliban ban to take Sikh Holy Books out of the country
Rashmi Talwar
AMRITSAR 16th September 2022– Taliban led Afghan Government restricted the departure and ferrying of Sri Guru Granth Sahib- The holy book of Sikhs- out of Afghanistan by a group of 60 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus scheduled to arrive at Delhi ON September 11, 2022.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan refused to facilitate the departure of four holy books, as per its religious sanctity and protocol. Officials of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs put forward objections to afghan’s Ministry of Information & Culture imposing a ban on the departure of books out of Afghanistan until clearance. The books were being carried to pay obeisance at Golden Temple Amritsar. The Taliban-led Afghan government however cited the religious scriptures as a heritage of the country.
Puneet Singh Chandhok, President, Indian World Forum, while talking to Kashmir Images from Delhi stated-“Immediate intervention of Government of India was sought in this regard, through Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian mission in Kabul; and talks are underway with Afghan counterparts, officials confirmed. The clearance is however being awaited”.
Afghan Sikhs are from various ethno-linguistic backgrounds including Pashtun, Hindkowan, and Punjabi. Once numbering between 2-5 Lakhs (1.8% to 4.6% of the national population) in the 1970s, their population in Afghanistan dwindled since the Afghan wars began.
It may be mentioned that afghan Sikhs started fleeing from their homeland in 1990 and fewer than 100 are left, including this last large group of 60 Sikhs and Hindus who are unwilling to leave the country without the holy books of the Sikhs and hence stranded. Amritsar-based, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder S Dhami, took strong objection to the ban by the Taliban, alluding to it as direct interference in a community’s religious affairs.
Amritsar September 13, 2022– Ladakhi girl, Deachen Angmo, Phd scholar from the Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, a research scholar at the Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar was awarded the “Best oral presentation award” at the international conference on “Waste Management and Recycling” held in Bangkok, Thailand.
Deachen Angmo, presented her work on the conversion of sewage sludge into nutrient-rich organic fertilizer through Vermi-technology. And focused on the need for earthworm health in the soil -“The earthworm has the potential to convert the sewage sludge into vermin compost which is rich in essential plant nutrients. The application of vermin compost from sewage sludge further enhances crop yield and provides defense against various plant diseases subsequently providing sustainable solutions to combat the burden of waste. Dr. Jaspal Singh Sandhu, Vice Chancellor of the Univ appreciated the research of Angmo. The research scholar said she greatly valued the opportunity provided by the university to her. She also thanked her supervisor Prof. (Dr.) Adarsh Pal Vig Chairman, Punjab Pollution Control Board, Patiala.
The research scholar found the management of Solid and liquid waste (SLW) as one of the serious problems with the increasing and fast-approaching water crisis. It is extremely essential to effectively treat the SLW before it enters the water bodies. The contamination of soil and water is increasing due to various activities, seeming to produce harmful gases, leachate, thereby affecting the environment and human health, and therefore, there is an urgent need for cost-effective, eco-friendly techniques like vermin-technology-using earthworms, like vermin-composting and vermin-filtration for industrial sludge, food waste, animal waste, into vermin-compost (nutrient-rich manure) which acts as a soil conditioner and purifies the wastewater.”
And further adds –“Excessive pesticides have contaminated soil leading to alteration in the structure and fertility of soil ecosystems leading to an imbalance between flora and fauna of the soil. The earthworm is an important soil macro-fauna and a key indicator species in the eco-toxicological risk assessment of pesticide-contaminated soil. “Neonicotinoids” have become the most extensively used group of pesticides in the world. As a novel neonicotinoids insecticide, “clothianidin” has been commonly utilized for crop protection with high biological effectiveness against different pests. However research showed its use had led to a significant decrease in body weight of earthworm, Cocoon number, cocoon weight, and hatchling production also decreased significantly.”
When she saw Queen Elizabeth II, at arm’s length……
Rashmi Talwar
AMRITSAR 9th September—–
Britain’s longest-serving monarch Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away on Thursday 8th September 2022, visited India three times in the year 1961, 1983, and 1997. Her first was a landmark visit, of a reigning Monarch to a commonwealth nation, 15 years after India’s Independence. That made her the first Monarch to visit the former colony in the year 1961 with her husband Duke of Edinburgh Phillip. She was invited by India’s first President Dr Rajinder Prasad and presided over the Republic Day Parade as Guest of Honour on the 11th Republic Day of India.
An Indo-Pak Partition victim from Rawalpindi, Reena Chhibber (90) at the time about 30 years old who was residing in Delhi then, talking from Pune to the author, described the moment of “27th January 1961”.
She recalled – “Each year on 27th January after India became a Republic in January of 1950, a cultural program Raj Bhawan’s Theatre, where selected personalities were invited for cultural program. In 1961 we were at the theatre and Queen Elizabeth II of England was the Guest of Honour at India’s Republic Day Parade. She attended this program which had few people. As I came out with my friend, the Queen was sitting in a moving Horse Buggy right outside the gate. She was at an arm’s distance from me. She looked at me and I waved my hand at her. The Queen radiantly smiled back and waved a white-gloved hand at us. She was wearing a ‘fluffy Hat’. It was her aura and grandeur that we remembered and discussed for many many nights thereafter.”
Reena had recently visited her birthplace in Rawalpindi, marking the 75th year since she had last seen her home at the time of partition and had to move to India along with her family when she was just 15 years old. Reena had witnessed many historical moments including the flag hoisting of the first flag of Independent India on 15th August 1947, at Simla. She had met many important personalities including first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru.
The Queen during this 1961 tour also addressed a massive crowd at Ramlila Grounds, Delhi, where thousands came to listen to her address. The Monarch was gifted an exquisite sculpture of Kutab Minar carved in Ivory while her husband Prince Philips was gifted a silver Candelabra. Subsequently, the Royal couple including the Queen’s Husband- The Duke of Edinburg Prince Philips also toured Bombay, Madras, Calcutta, Bangalore, and also visited the Taj Mahal in Agra. The couple paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi in New Delhi and planted a Pine Sapling at the Samadhi of the Father of the Nation at Raj Ghat Grounds.
The Queen with Prince Philips visited Amritsar on her 3rd visit to India in 1997. A day earlier on 13 October 1997, the Queen referred to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in a state banquet address. “It is no secret that there have been some difficult episodes in our past — Jallianwala Bagh, which I shall visit tomorrow, is a distressing example,” she said.
Seen by the author on 14th October 1997, Her Majesty’s visit to the Jallianwalla Bagh Memorial – a remembrance of the indiscriminate killing of people on the bloodied Baisakhi day of 13th April 1919- meant a lot to the hurt psyche of the people of Amritsar. Though the Queen never apologized for the massacre, she and her husband placed wreaths at the memorial. The massacre at Amritsar spurred a renewed spirit of Freedom for India from the British. Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philips known to make many gaffes made an infamous and insensitive remark at the memorial site in 1997, questioning the number of casualties in the massacre in 1919 by British Gen O’Dwyer and his men and commented that it was ‘less’ than mentioned on the memorial stone.
Special permission was granted to the Queen to walk in socks at the Golden Temple parikrama or circumambulation around holy Sarovar or pond outside the sanctum sanctorum of the holiest Sikh Shrine.
Pak likely to import vegetables from India to tide over the food crisis
RASHMI TALWAR
AMRITSAR (Wagah Attari) – 3rd Sept 2022:
When Pak’s Finance Minister Miftah Ismail put across, to consider the import of vegetables and other edibles from India following massive floods in Pakistan that have consumed hundreds of lives and left a trail of devastation for standing crops, the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) followed it by placing a formal request.
The present moment comes three years after Islamabad downgraded trade ties with New Delhi over the abrogation of article 370 in Kashmir. And, almost 10 years after trade-in edibles was stalled in 2012, says Rajdeep Uppal President of Confederation of International Chambers of Commerce, Amritsar, a leading Indian exporter of vegetables.
At present Pak PM Shahbaz Sharif is looking at the possibility to stall soaring prices of vegetables due to floods. Top-notch diplomatic experts feel with the IMF approval of USD 1.17bn bailout fund, Pak would push for the shortest and easiest import of perishable edibles i.e. from India. It is hoped that this could thaw the ice around Islamabad and New Delhi and raise hopes for the resumption of quick, fulfilling, and cheaper trade between India and Pakistan via the shortest and easiest Wagah Attari route.
Rajdeep Uppal contends – “Between India and Pakistan the trade quantum was to the tune of 3$ Billion in better days. If full fledge trade resumes, the entire region could become prosperous with a potential for 10$ to 15$ Billion in trade”. “Of course national security is uppermost”, he adds
Pakistan is witnessing a massive surge in prices of vegetables and fruits, as the supply from Baluchistan, Sindh, and South Punjab is disrupted. The situation has turned desperate as basic crops of tomato are priced at Rs 500 and Onion at Rs 400 PKR. Since winter is ready to set in, the crisis will linger for the next three months. The floods have claimed nearly 1,600 lives so far.
Hope emerges from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tweet that struck a compassionate note, which spurred a lakh of likes and multiple retweets- “Saddened to see the devastation caused by the floods in Pakistan. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the injured, and all those affected by this natural calamity and hope for an early restoration of normalcy.” Add to it, the External affairs minister S. Jaishankar voiced his opinion looking at a “more non-reciprocal and generous India” for regional prosperity.
The sympathetic and pragmatic opportunity spells a win-win situation for both neighbors and a step forward in regional peace and prosperity. The border pockets would not be the only ones to derive an advantage with direct trade resumption; the entire stratosphere may see a sea change. However, an editorial in “The Tribune” suggests exercising restraint and cites Islamabad’s prolonged failure to take verifiable action against perpetrators of terrorism before taking a call on restarting trade.
What has changed?
According to the Indian side, Article 370’s revocation is a done deal; it cannot be reversed. Some movement has been made on electoral rolls for J&K elections, which is likely to usher in Political governance and restore statehood for the Union Territory.
On the Pak side during the current economic and now geographical crisis caused by floods, the Pak Public is in no mood to listen to issues of the Kashmir cause, when their own bellies go hungry. Hence Pak Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s attempt to open trade with India without New Delhi making some movement on Kashmir is not likely to see much of hurdles, weighing on the crucial food situation, the country is dealing with. Alternately even former Pak PM Imran Khan, who suspended trade between the two on the issue of Kashmir, attempts to pick faults in resuming Indo-Pak trade may fall flat given the soaring market prices in their country.
Rajdeep says-“The opportunity should not be lost or confined to mere temporary import rather it can serve to be an opening point to negotiate free trade corridor for entire central Asia, as Trade fulfills the promise and nurtures “co-dependence” of partners and a mutual interest in the prosperity of the other.”
The Author can be reached at email : rashmitalwarno1@gmail.com
Pakistanis and Kashmiris Voices of support to India at Pakistani Youtuber Channel/
Rashmi Talwar
SRINAGARGREATER JAMMU/ 25th May2023—-
Aslamlekkum! Namaste! Satsri Aka!, Good morning!
This mélange of greetings is common in the Indian context where a vibrant multi-faith society co-exists in one nation
Interestingly, these greetings come from the most unlikely forum of –-Sana Amjad-a Pakistani Youtuber, running a formidable News Channel in her own name, having a following of 8.34 Lakhs!
Sana’s channel is a young 5yr old born in 2019. Her ideas -original, simple, with a stamp of Youngistan! She brings the voice of the Pakistani Public to the fore on various local, national, and international issues. Hence most of her videos attain viral status, especially in this belt of India and Pakistan. The reason is, her topics are bold, fearless, time-lined, often striking sentiments on both sides of the International Border (IB) and…
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