Discrepancies to fore as Kerala government takes stock of enemy properties
Thiruvananthapuram: A meeting convened by the additional chief secretary (home and vigilance) on
enemy properties
, in the wake of the April 22
Pahalgam killings
, has acknowledged long-pending issues that kept them in legal and administrative limbo — discrepancies, court delays and poor record-keeping.
Enemy properties are assets once owned by individuals who migrated to Pakistan or China and were later acquired by the Indian govt under the
Enemy Property Act, 1968
. Kerala's share of these properties mostly stems from migration from the Malabar region to Karachi during the pre- and post-Independence period. Many migrated for trade with the intention to return, which was thwarted by visa denials or deportations.
The meeting held on April 29, the minutes of which were accessed by TOI, noted that "the preservation of enemy property is very important and after the unfortunate incident in Pahalgam, this is going to be more serious."
It exposed the state's administrative inertia, with several district collectors admitting to gaps in valuation, survey, mutation and clarity over which portions of the properties are under the scanner.
Many of these properties are tied up in litigation in Kannur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur and Ernakulam districts. In Kannur, five of seven identified properties are already before the high court.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here]
Esseps
Learn More
Undo
Kozhikode has 17 such properties, but mutation was completed for only three, with the rest pending due to partition and ownership ambiguities. Malappuram stands out with 56 cases under one list and six under another, awaiting detailed valuation.
Palakkad and Thrissur reported six and five cases respectively, while the latter admitted that tax was still being paid on four such properties. In Ernakulam, one disputed case involves a man who became a Pakistani citizen while the property remains in his wife's name, a grey area that now needs legal interpretation from the ministry of home affairs.
The state govt has now directed officials to ensure that no transactions take place on these properties, even if courts have not ruled on them. The directive, however, underscores a deeper problem: many of the properties remained untouched for years due to prolonged litigation, and in some cases, due to lack of defence filings by the state. The district collectors have been asked to report if such legal statements were even filed.
Perhaps the most revealing is the mismatch between state and central data. While Kerala Police flagged 61 enemy properties, the Centre's Custodian of Enemy Property for India (CEPI) lists 68 vested properties and 92 under process in the state. This discrepancy is yet to be explained or reconciled. Official data shared by MHA shows over 12,611 enemy properties across the country, of which 12,485 belonged to those who chose Pakistani citizenship and 126 of those who took up Chinese.
These include assets located primarily in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi, Goa, Maharashtra, Telangana, Gujarat and Tripura. The numbers are few in Kerala and other states. The Union govt has, in recent years, taken steps to dispose of enemy properties, including forming a group of ministers in 2020 to expedite the process.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
15 minutes ago
- Time of India
Trump authorises additional 2,000 National Guard members to Los Angeles, US officials say
AP image Another 2,000 National Guard troops along with 700 Marines are headed to Los Angeles on orders Monday from President Donald Trump, escalating a military presence local officials and Gov Gavin Newsom don't want and the police chief says creates logistical challenges for safely handling protests. An initial 2,000 guard troops ordered by Trump started arriving Sunday, which saw the most violence during three days of protests driven by anger over Trump's stepped-up enforcement of immigration laws that critics say are breaking apart migrant families. Monday's demonstrations were was far less raucous, with thousands peacefully attending a rally at City Hall and hundreds protesting outside a federal complex that includes a detention centre where some immigrants are being held following workplace raids across the city. Trump has described Los Angeles in dire terms that Mayor Karen Bass and Newsom say are nowhere close to the truth. They say he is putting public safety at risk by adding military personnel even though police say they don't need the help. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said in a statement he was confident in the police department's ability to handle large-scale demonstrations and that the Marines' arrival without coordinating with the police department presented a "significant logistical and operational challenge" for them. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo Newsom called the deployments reckless and "disrespectful to our troops" in a post on the social platform X. "This isn't about public safety," Newsom said. "It's about stroking a dangerous President's ego." The protests began Friday in downtown Los Angeles after federal immigration authorities arrested more than 40 people across the city. The smell of smoke hung in the air downtown Monday, one day after crowds blocked a major freeway and set self-driving cars on fire as police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades. US officials said the Marine troops were deployed to protect federal property and personnel, including federal immigration agents. Trump's Monday order put the national guard members on active duty. One U.S. official warned that the order was just signed and it could take a day or two to get troops moving. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss troop movements. Despite their presence, there has been limited engagement so far between the Guard and protesters while local law enforcement implements crowd control. California pushes back against presence of federal troops California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit over the use of national guard troops following the first deployment, telling reporters in his announcement Monday that Trump had "trampled" the state's sovereignty. "We don't take lightly to the president abusing his authority and unlawfully mobilising California national guard troops," Bonta said. He sought a court order declaring Trump's use of the Guard unlawful and asking for a restraining order to halt the deployment. Trump said Monday that the city would have been "completely obliterated" if he had not deployed the Guard. Bass criticised the deployment of National Guard troops and Marines as a "deliberate attempt" by the Trump administration to "create disorder and chaos in our city." She made a plea to the federal government: "Stop the raids." Early protests remained peaceful On Monday, thousands flooded the streets around City Hall for a union rally ahead of a hearing for arrested labor leader David Huerta, who was freed a few hours later on a $50,000 bond. Huerta's arrest on Friday while protesting immigration raids has become a rallying cry for people angry over the administration's crackdown. He is the president of the Service Employees International Union California, which represents thousands of the state's janitors, security officers and other workers. Early protests had a calm and even joyful atmosphere at times, with people dancing to live music and buoyed by Huerta's release. Protesters linked hands outside the downtown federal detention centre where Huerta was being held in front of a line of police officers. Religious leaders joined the protesters, working with organisers at times to de-escalate moments of tension. There was a heavy law enforcement presence in the few square blocks including the federal detention facility, while most in the immense city of some 4 million people went about their normal business on peaceful streets. Chanting against a line of national guard troops with Homeland Security officers behind them surrounding the federal buildings ramped up in the afternoon as people yelled, "Free them all!" and "National guard go away." As the crowd thinned in the evening, police began pushing protesters away from the area, firing crowd-control munitions as people chanted, "Peaceful protest." Other protests took shape Monday afternoon across LA County. Outside a Los Angeles clothing warehouse, relatives of detained workers demanded at a news conference that their loved ones be released. The family of Jacob Vasquez, 35, who was detained Friday at the warehouse, where he worked, said they had yet to receive any information about him. "Jacob is a family man and the sole breadwinner of his household," Vasquez's brother, Gabriel, told the crowd. He asked that his last name not be used, fearing being targeted by authorities. Several dozen people were arrested in protests throughout the weekend. Authorities say one was detained Sunday for throwing a Molotov cocktail at police and another for ramming a motorcycle into a line of officers. McDonnell said police officers were "overwhelmed" by the remaining protesters, who included regular agitators who show up at demonstrations to cause trouble. He said the protests followed a similar pattern for episodes of civil unrest, with things usually ramping up in the second and third days. Guard deployment is a nearly unprecedented escalation The deployment appeared to be the first time in decades that a state's national guard was activated without a request from its governor, a significant escalation against those who have sought to hinder the administration's mass deportation efforts. The last time the national guard was activated without a governor's permission was in 1965, when President Lyndon B. Johnson sent troops to protect a civil rights march in Alabama, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. In a directive Saturday, Trump invoked a legal provision allowing him to deploy federal service members when there is "a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the government of the United States."
News18
16 minutes ago
- News18
Honey Trap, Diplomatic Deception: Anti-Espionage Probe After Pahalgam Reveals Deep Infiltration
Last Updated: Officials said Pakistani diplomats used official cover to recruit not only government insiders but also emotionally vulnerable individuals and aspirational social media influencers In the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam attack, central intelligence agencies convened a high-level meeting and directed their state units to narrow down suspects from a list of nearly 1,500 individuals compiled through inter-agency intelligence sharing. Government employees and security personnel came under intense scrutiny, leading to the identification of around 30 individuals allegedly involved in an espionage network. This intelligence was subsequently shared with local police and other enforcement agencies for corroboration and further action. According to sources, the central agencies prepared a report of every individual, and a team matched them for further analysis to understand the trend. Officials discovered that many of these individuals had accessed sensitive areas and collected classified information. Sources also said an umbrella report revealed that the espionage activities were being orchestrated with direct support from individuals operating under diplomatic cover in India. 'A common pattern emerged that officers from Pakistan's ISI and other intelligence agencies exploited vulnerable individuals, many of whom were lured with small amounts of money," a senior official involved in the probe told News18. 'Several suspects were found communicating with a set of women identified as a Pakistani intelligence operative who had honey-trapped them." Most of them were in touch with different Pakistani officials for the last 4-5 months. The operation also exposed a shift in espionage tactics. Officials noted a modern, asymmetric strategy where Pakistani diplomats used official cover to recruit not only government insiders but also emotionally vulnerable individuals, aspirational social media influencers, and students, the official said. The agencies further observed that a significant number of those targeted were North Indians familiar with the terrain, making them valuable assets for intelligence gathering. Officials who were trapped were living in the area of which information was required by Pakistani agency. The operation remains ongoing, and more arrests are expected in the coming days based on actionable intelligence provided by central agencies to local authorities. What Analysis Found This was the most common tactic used to lure and compromise targets. Victims were contacted via Facebook, Instagram, or WhatsApp, often by ISI operatives posing as Indian women. Once rapport was built, intelligence was slowly extracted under emotional/romantic pretences. Civilian Targets With Access to Sensitive Info Arrests weren't limited to military insiders—many were students, YouTubers, labourers, or low-level contractors. Ravindra Verma (junior engineer), Jyoti Malhotra (YouTuber), and Devendra Dhillon (student) had limited but useful access (photos, base locations, movement patterns) and were likely seen as easier to manipulate. Heavy Use of Encrypted or Obscure Communication Tools Apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and custom-designed apps were used to transmit intelligence. Some accused even received instructions through voice notes or delay-upload tools. Clustered Geography Majority of arrests came from Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. A few isolated cases occurred in Maharashtra, but no confirmed arrests in Southern or North-eastern states so far. ISI networks appear densely active in the northern Indian belt, where familiarity with terrain and access to sensitive installations is higher. Arrested so far 1. Ravindra Muralidhar Verma Details of Allegations: A 27-year-old defence contractor from Thane, Maharashtra, who leaked sensitive naval information (including sketches and audio notes about 14 Indian warships and submarines) to a Pakistan-based handler over WhatsApp. He was honey-trapped through a fake Facebook account, arrested by Maharashtra ATS and booked under the Official Secrets Act. 2. Jyoti Malhotra Details of Allegations: A travel YouTuber from Karnal, Haryana, accused of sending videos and photos of sensitive border areas to Pakistani handlers via encrypted apps. She was in contact with a Pakistan High Commission official and made multiple trips to Pakistan. Arrested and remanded under the Official Secrets Act and conspiracy laws. 3. Jasbir Singh (alias 'Jaan Mahal") Details of Allegations: A YouTuber from Tarn Taran, Punjab, arrested for allegedly promoting pro-Pakistan content, maintaining contact with over 150 Pakistani individuals, and receiving money through suspicious transactions. He reportedly helped others access Pakistan Day events in Delhi. 4. Shakur Khan Details of Allegations: A government official from Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, who made multiple visits to Pakistan. He was arrested for sending sensitive border-related information via WhatsApp to ISI handlers. Remanded under the Official Secrets Act. 5. Devendra Singh Dhillon Details of Allegations: A 25-year-old student from Rohtak, Haryana, accused of sharing photos and details of military installations after visiting Pakistan via the Kartarpur Corridor. He was allegedly recruited by ISI handlers and communicated through Telegram. 6. Mohammad Murtaza Ali Details of Allegations: A man from Jalandhar, Punjab, accused of developing and using a mobile app to transmit confidential Indian defence information to Pakistan. He was arrested with multiple mobile phones and SIM cards used for the operation. 7. Mohammad Tareef (or Tarif) Details of Allegations: A civilian from Tauru, Mewat (Haryana), arrested for sharing visuals of Indian military deployments and IAF bases with handlers linked to Pakistan's High Commission. He was part of a wider ring busted during a major intelligence crackdown. 8. Armaan Details of Allegations: A 26-year-old man from Nuh, Haryana, arrested for sending photos and videos from army expos and defence locations to handlers in the Pakistan High Commission. He was part of the same network as Mohammad Tareef. 9. Amritsar Labourers Details of Allegations: Several daily-wage labourers from Punjab were arrested for leaking basic military infrastructure and deployment details. They reportedly communicated with a jailed intermediary who passed on information to Pakistani handlers. 10. Shahzad Details of Allegations: A businessman from Moradabad/Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, accused of running a smuggling operation that doubled as an espionage network for Pakistan's ISI. He was arrested under the National Security Act and Official Secrets Act. top videos View all 11. Aasif Baloch & Zaffar (Pakistan High Commission officials) Details of Allegations: Not Indian nationals but were directly involved in managing the Indian spy network. Named in FIRs and intelligence reports. Declared persona non grata and expelled from India. About the Author Ankur Sharma With over 15 years of journalistic experience, Ankur Sharma, Associate Editor, specializes in internal security and is tasked with providing comprehensive coverage from the Ministry of Home Affairs, More Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : espionage haryana honey trap jyoti malhotra Pahalgam attack pakistan punjab Spying Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 10, 2025, 09:43 IST News india Honey Trap, Diplomatic Deception: Anti-Espionage Probe After Pahalgam Reveals Deep Infiltration
Time of India
17 minutes ago
- Time of India
Trump's cuts are 'devastating' for vulnerable women worldwide: UN
The United Nations Population Fund ( UNFPA ) has faced budget cuts before, but the impact of President Donald Trump 's policies has been even more "devastating" for reproductive health worldwide, chief Natalia Kanem told AFP. The agency has been targeted by US conservatives since the Kemp-Kasten Amendment's enactment in 1985 by Congress , when the administration of then president Ronald Reagan rallied against China's population policies, accusing Beijing of promoting forced abortions and sterilizations. All subsequent Republican presidencies have cut US funding to UNFPA, and the second Trump administration is no exception. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Over 40 and Struggling With Belly Fat? Try 1 Teaspoon Daily (See Results Fast!) getfittoday Undo "We've had over $330 million worth of projects ended," virtually overnight, in "some of the hardest hit regions of the world" like Afghanistan, Kanem said in an interview coinciding with the release of the UNFPA's annual report Tuesday. "So yes, we are suffering." Live Events Kanem pointed to the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan as an example, where over the years more than 18,000 pregnancies were delivered by "heroic midwives" who "conducted these over 18,000 deliveries without a single maternal death, which you know, in a crisis situation is extraordinary." "Those maternity wards today have closed. The funding cuts immediately have meant that those midwives are no longer able to do their jobs," Kanem said. Although it is too soon to estimate the precise impacts of the US cuts, they will inevitably result in increased maternal mortality and more unintended pregnancies, according to Kanem. "What's different this time for UNFPA is that our ecosystem of other reproductive health actors who might be able to fill in for us," Kanem said, adding they are "reeling from huge impact of having their funding denied." The Trump administration has slashed many such external aid programs. "So it is very lamentable that this year, to me, has been drastically worse than ever before, precisely because now everybody is caught up in the whirlwind." "The withdrawal of the United States from the funding arena for reproductive health has been devastating," Kanem said. - Desire and rights - American policy is not only marked by funding cuts, but also a challenge to gender equality matters. "There will be debates about concepts, but there shouldn't be any debate about the non-negotiability of the rights and choices of women and adolescent girls," Kanem emphasized. "We always embrace change, but we should not compromise on these common values which spell the difference between life and death for women and girls all around the world," she continued. "Women deserve support. Adolescent girls deserve to finish their schooling, not become pregnant, not be bartered or sent off into marriage as a non-solution to issues that families may face." The UNFPA's annual report, published Tuesday and based on the results of an survey of 14,000 people from 14 countries -- nations which represent over a third of the world's population -- also underscores concerns that millions of people around the world cannot create the families they desire. More than 40 percent of those over the age of 50 reported not having the number of children they wanted -- with 31 percent saying they had fewer kids than they desired and 12 percent saying they had more than they wanted. More than half of respondents said economic barriers prevented them from having more children. Conversely, one in five said they were pressured into having a child, and one in three adults reported an unintended pregnancy. The majority of people "live in countries where fertility rates have fallen so far and so fast that they are below replacement," Kanem said. "We know that the issue of population pressure takes almost like a headline drastic view. Some people think there are way too many people. Others are saying we don't have enough, women should have more babies," Kanem said. "What UNFPA really cares about is a woman's true desire, rights and choices," Kanem said.
