Five Pak refugees in Gorakhpur seek permission to stay
In the wake of the Ministry of External Affairs announcing the suspension of visa services to Pakistani nationals, five refugees from the neigbouring country living in Gorakhpur on long-term visas or LTVs had sought permission to remain in India, said senior superintendent of police (SSP) Gaurav Grover.
He, however, said the five people won't be affected by the latest directive. 'They [the five Pakistani nationals] have no reason to worry. However, as a precaution, their profiles are being reviewed closely,' he stated.
According to officials, the five refugees include two Hindu siblings living in Pipighanj and three Muslim individuals settled in Zafra Bazar, Ghasikatra, and the Durgabadi area. All were granted LTVs on humanitarian grounds after facing religious discrimination and harassment in Pakistan.
As per the records of the local intelligence unit, Nikhat Anis, a widow of the late Shameem Mahmood from Zafra Bazar, was born in Pakistan in 1960 and migrated to India in 1983. Similarly, Nasra Khatoon, widow of the late Farooq from Ghasikatra, was born in 1949 in Pakistan and migrated to India in 1982. Both women had been living in India for decades and reportedly have no remaining ties to Pakistan.
Rama Devi and her brother Basant Kumar, born in 1957 and 1965 respectively in Pakistan, faced religious persecution before migrating to India in 1981. They now reside in Pipighanj as refugees.
Officials said that while these individuals are not impacted by the recent visa revocation order, they have been contacted by the local intelligence unit to verify their current status. However, there is no immediate threat to their residency in India, as they continue to hold valid Long-Term Visas.
'Long-term visa holders are exempt from the government's recent orders. Their stay remains legal, but the monitoring has been heightened due to the current sensitive situation,' an official added.
The intense monitoring is in response to the terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam on April 22.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
SC dropped probe on Allahabad HC judge Shekhar Kumar Yadav after Rajya Sabha alert
The Supreme Court was preparing to initiate an in-house inquiry into Allahabad high court judge Shekhar Kumar Yadav's controversial speech at a VHP event last year, but dropped the plan after receiving a categorical letter from the Rajya Sabha secretariat that asserted exclusive jurisdiction over the matter, people aware of the matter said. The people cited above confirmed that then Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna had set the process in motion to assess whether the judge's conduct warranted scrutiny in the wake of an adverse report from the Allahabad High Court chief justice. However, the move was halted after the Rajya Sabha secretariat's letter in March underlined that the constitutional mandate for any such proceeding lies solely with the chairman of the Rajya Sabha, and ultimately with Parliament and the President. This letter effectively stalled the judiciary's plan to initiate an in-house inquiry – an internal mechanism laid down through judicial precedents to examine complaints of misconduct against sitting judges of the superior judiciary, against Justice Yadav, whose comments at the VHP's December 8, 2024, event in Prayagraj drew widespread condemnation for violating the principles of secularism and judicial impartiality. HT reached out to the Rajya secretariat for a response on the next course of action but did not get one immediately. In February, Rajya Sabha chairman and vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar said that only Parliament and President have the jurisdiction over the matter 'The jurisdiction for the stated subject matter constitutionally lies in exclusivity with the chairman Rajya Sabha and in an eventuality with the Parliament and honourable President. Taking note of public domain information and inputs available, it is expedient that the Secretary General, Rajya Sabha shares this information with the Secretary General, Supreme Court of India,' he said in Parliament on February 13. Justice Yadav, addressing a gathering organised by the legal cell of the VHP within the Allahabad High Court Bar Association premises, made a series of incendiary statements that targeted the Muslim community and invoked majoritarian themes. In his speech, he reportedly asserted that 'India should function according to the wishes of the majority,' claimed 'only a Hindu can make this country a 'Vishwa Guru',' and linked practices such as triple talaq and halala to societal backwardness, calling for their abolition under the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC). Video clips of the speech, which went viral on social media, show him allegedly using derogatory communal remarks framed the UCC as a Hindu-Muslim binary, stating that while Hindu customs had evolved to address historical wrongs, Muslims had resisted reform. The speech triggered outrage among political leaders, jurists and civil society, with senior advocate Kapil Sibal leading a group of 55 opposition MPs in filing a notice in the Rajya Sabha seeking Justice Yadav's impeachment for 'grave violation of judicial ethics.' The Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reforms (CJAR) also demanded an in-house inquiry and his immediate suspension, citing a clear breach of the Restatement of Values of Judicial Life adopted by the Supreme Court in 1997. Amid mounting criticism, the Supreme Court swiftly sought a report from the Allahabad High Court chief justice on December 10, 2024. A week later, on December 17, the apex court collegium, comprising CJI Khanna and Justices Bhushan R Gavai, Surya Kant, Hrishikesh Roy and Abhay S Oka, summoned Justice Yadav for a 30-minute closed-door meeting to ascertain whether his public comments violated the Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct or judicial ethics outlined in internal codes. While Justice Yadav reportedly assured the collegium judges he would apologise publicly, he failed to do so in the weeks that followed. Instead, in a January 2025 letter to the chief justice of the Allahabad High Court, the judge doubled down on his remarks, claiming they had been misrepresented by vested interests and asserting that his speech reflected societal concerns 'consistent with constitutional values.' Appointed in 2019, Justice Yadav is set to retire on April 15, 2026. People cited above said that CJI Khanna subsequently sought a fresh report from the Allahabad High Court chief justice, referring to additional complaints against Justice Yadav from a law student and a retired IPS officer. But by then, an unexpected development complicated matters. In March 2025, the Supreme Court administration received a formal communication from the Rajya Sabha secretariat, informing it that the matter of Justice Yadav's conduct, arising out of the December 13 impeachment motion signed by 55 MPs, was already under active consideration. 'The court's secretary general brought the letter to the notice of the then CJI, who was clear that an in-house inquiry, being a non-statutory and internal mechanism, should not run parallel to a statutory process under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968,' a person familiar with the matter told HT. 'The Rajya Sabha's categorical assertion that it was seized of the matter prompted the judiciary to defer to the parliamentary process,' this person added. The Judges (Inquiry) Act mandates that a motion seeking removal of a High Court or Supreme Court judge for 'proved misbehaviour or incapacity' must be admitted by the presiding officer of the House concerned. To be sure, the Vice President and Rajya Sabha chairman, Jagdeep Dhankhar, has yet to decide on the admissibility of the motion and whether to constitute a formal inquiry committee. 'The idea was not to create constitutional friction or undermine parliamentary privilege…That's the sole reason why no in-house probe was set up despite the initial steps,' the person cited above added. Another person aware of the deliberations within the collegium said that all members were informed of the decision to halt the in-house inquiry after the receipt of the Rajya Sabha's letter. 'There was a kind of consensus that the matter, being under legislative scrutiny, should not be clouded by a simultaneous judicial process,' the person said. Opposition lawmakers, meanwhile, continue to push for clarity on the status of the impeachment motion. Speaking to HT on condition of anonymity, a senior MP said last month that his party planned to raise the matter during the monsoon session. 'During the budget session, the chairman had said that he was assessing the veracity of the signatures on the notice. We would like to know the status of that notice notices have been given in both the Houses and it is imperative it should be taken up,' the lawmaker said. In his formal reply to the complaints, Justice Yadav reportedly maintained in January that he has done no wrong. He described his speech as an articulation of issues affecting society and claimed that his references were misconstrued. On the criticism of his previous judicial orders related to cow protection, he is said to have responded that these reflected India's cultural ethos and legal recognition of cow protection, not any form of judicial bias. Notably, Justice Yadav did not tender an apology in his correspondence, reinforcing his stance that his speech was neither communal nor violative of judicial conduct. He rather asserted that judges, who often face unfair attacks, deserve protection and support from senior members of the judiciary.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
16 arrested in Assam over alleged illegal cattle slaughter during Eid
Guwahati: A total of 16 people were arrested for "illegally" slaughtering cattle during Eid a day ago, said chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday. He said cattle parts were recovered from multiple locations across Assam, including near Cotton University in Guwahati Five illegal slaughter sites were found in two districts of Barak Valley — Gumrah, Silchar, and Lakhipur in Cachar district, and Badarpur and Banga in Karimganj district. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The CM, in a post on his X handle, wrote: "While our Constitution guarantees the right to religious freedom, it equally upholds the rule of law and public order. This Eid-ul-Zuha, disturbing incidents of illegal cattle slaughter and recovery of cattle parts were reported from multiple locations across Assam." Sarma said nine arrests were made in Cachar and seven in Sribhumi district, with additional reports of cattle parts being found in Dhubri, Hojai, and Sribhumi, as well as near Cotton University in Guwahati. The CM said the state govt is committed to "preserving communal harmony, but not at the cost of lawlessness or cruelty". "Please be clear that strict action will be taken against all violators — irrespective of faith or background," he added Meanwhile, people from the Hindu community blocked roads in Hojai on Sunday, alleging that pieces of meat were deliberately thrown by miscreants in certain areas on Saturday night, a police officer said. While beef consumption is not illegal in the state, the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021, prohibits cattle slaughter and beef sales in majority-Hindu, Jain, or Sikh localities, as well as within a five-km radius of a temple or satra (Vaishnavite monastery). On Sunday, a large number of people from the Hindu and Muslim communities came out in Hojai to hold protests separately. They blocked roads and clashed with the police, the officer said. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "While the Hindus blocked roads in the Barpukhuri area, where suspected cattle meat pieces were found at three places on Saturday, Muslims also came out and blocked a road at Bhuyanpatty as a countermeasure," he said. A section of the mob at Bhuyanpatty clashed with the police, prompting officers to use "mild lathi-charge" to disperse the protesters. However, the situation was brought under control with additional security forces deployed in the area. In Guwahati, police said some pieces of meat wrapped in a polythene packet were found near the Cotton University. The sample has been sent for forensic testing. "No comment can be made until reports are available," the police said.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Spying ring: YouTuber Jasbir Singh's arrest unveils financial links, Pakistan Day event connection
Mohali: The arrest of YouTuber Jasbir Singh on charges of spying for Pakistan has led to a string of shocking revelations, exposing deeper financial links and suspicious connections to a Pakistan Day event in Delhi, revealed sources in Punjab Police's state special operations cell (SSOC) in Mohali. Jasbir, who is in two-day remand of SSOC) Mohali, is under investigation for alleged involvement in espionage activities and his ties with individuals linked to Pakistani agencies. According to sources, a 32-year-old woman from Jalandhar,said to be a close associate of Jasbir, was summoned and interrogated by SSOC for several hours. Her name surfaced during Jasbir's questioning. Investigators found she accompanied Jasbir to Delhi on multiple occasions and was present with him at a Pakistan Day programme. Access to the event was strictly through digital invitations, which Jasbir managed to procure through alleged links with a man named Danish, said to be a key figure in the espionage network, according to the sources. The interrogation of the woman revealed that Jasbir not only introduced her to several individuals in Delhi, but also provided her with financial support over a period of time. Investigating officers are now examining her bank accounts to determine the purpose of these transactions and whether they were directed by foreign handlers. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Sources have also started examining her phone and social media accounts, while forensic experts continue analysing Jasbir's digital devices. Preliminary findings from Jasbir's laptop indicate that several applications were installed by an IAS officer, now under scrutiny. After the recent arrest of Haryana-based social media influencer Jyoti Malhotra, Jasbir allegedly deleted multiple applications from his system — a move investigators believe was an attempt to erase incriminating evidence. A forensics team is working to recover the deleted data, which could lead to further breakthroughs. One of the most alarming discoveries came from Jasbir's mobile phone, which contained over 150 contacts, many allegedly linked to Pakistan's ISI and army officers. According to investigators, Jasbir frequently communicated with these individuals. He was reportedly encouraged to create and promote content that portrayed Pakistan positively and to influence Indian youth through his platform. "Jasbir was advised by his handlers to bring more young Indians into the fold," said a senior police official on the pretext of anonymity. "Danish, in particular, was keen on expanding his network by including more women," he said. With multiple leads emerging from Jasbir's confession and digital trail, the SSOC continues to probe deeper into what could be part of a larger espionage and propaganda network operating across borders.
