Kolkata police tighten passport checks to crack down on illegal immigrants and ID fraud; address checks mandatory
Kolkata police tighten passport checks to crack down on illegal immigrants and ID fraud; address checks mandatory
KOLKATA: Breaking the syndicates dealing with illegal immigration by identifying the gang heads and double-checking all received ID documents from the source to examine their authenticity were the two reasons behind the changes introduced in passport verification, said Kolkata Police commissioner
Manoj Verma
on Thursday, stressing the aim was to ensure illegal immigrants could not stay on.
"We have re-evaluated the passport verification system. Our primary target is to identify syndicate members and individuals involved in such illegal activities. Wherever documents are getting used, we are scrutinising and verifying them right back to their source," Verma. "The accused at times use different addresses for different cases. We are cross-checking Aadhaar addresses with other ID documents." Verma was speaking to reporters after planting saplings at the Alipore Bodyguard Lines on World Environment Day on Thursday.
He urged citizens to plant at least 10 trees as a "contribution to society".
Going back to passport verification, Verma pointed out that no new passport would be issued nor any old one renewed without an address visit. Even cops asking passport applicants to visit police stations would face action, Verma said. The SOP says all documents of a passport applicant will be uploaded on the portal to root out discrepancy. Applicants can monitor document verification status through a link provided by police.
Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with
Eid wishes
,
messages
, and
quotes
!
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
'Stopped for tea break': RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav escapes unhurt as his convoy hit by truck in Bihar; 3 security personnel injured
Tejashwi Yadav NEW DELHI: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav escaped unharmed when a speeding truck collided with two vehicles in his convoy in Bihar's Vaishali district early Saturday, injuring three security personnel. The incident occurred around 12.30am near Goraul on the Patna-Muzaffarpur national highway when the convoy had stopped for a tea break while returning to Patna from Madhepura. The opposition leader's vehicle was not struck in the accident, according to a senior police officer. The three injured security personnel were taken to the nearest government hospital, where their condition was reported as stable. Yadav visited the injured personnel at the hospital to check on their condition. "The accident took place when we were returning from Madhepura to Patna. We had stopped for a tea break near Goraul. A speeding truck rammed into two vehicles of my convoy, injuring three security personnel. I immediately alerted the district police and the administration. The accident took place just five feet away from my vehicle," Yadav told reporters at the hospital. The police have arrested the truck driver and seized the vehicle. 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 "Action should be taken against those who violate traffic rules," Yadav said. The authorities are investigating the incident, which occurred just five feet away from the opposition leader's vehicle during their return journey from Madhepura to Patna. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
The Hindu
16 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Pakistan, Saudi agree to elevate strategic partnership
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia agreed to further elevate their strategic partnership during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visit to the country. Mr. Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Friday (June 7, 2025) reaffirmed their mutual commitment to deepening the multi-faceted relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, The Express Tribune reported. An official statement said the decision to elevate the strategic relations was taken under the "shared vision of the leadership and aspirations of the brotherly people of the two countries". Mr. Sharif, who arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday, met the Saudi Crown Prince in Makkah, a day after the conclusion of Hajj. The Prime Minister was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and Minister for Interior Syed Mohsin Naqvi. Mr. Sharif extended warm Eid greetings to King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Prince Mohammed bin Salman, commending the kingdom's hospitality and service to the pilgrims from around the world who are in Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj. He expressed gratitude for the remarkable efforts of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince in ensuring a safe and spiritually fulfilling pilgrimage experience. Mr. Sharif also expressed appreciation for the Kingdom's proactive role during recent tensions between Pakistan and India, and its steadfast commitment to promoting peace and stability in the region and beyond. The two leaders also held detailed discussions on the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction on the growing momentum of bilateral cooperation in the political, economic and security domains, reaffirming the deep-rooted, strategic, and fraternal ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Mr. Sharif extended a cordial invitation to the crown prince to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at his earliest convenience, which the prince graciously accepted.
The Wire
26 minutes ago
- The Wire
‘Attack on Religious Right of Kashmir's Muslims,' Says Mirwaiz as J&K Govt Bar Eid Prayers at Srinagar Eidgah
Menu हिंदी తెలుగు اردو Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion Support independent journalism. Donate Now Government 'Attack on Religious Right of Kashmir's Muslims,' Says Mirwaiz as J&K Govt Bar Eid Prayers at Srinagar Eidgah The Wire Staff 11 minutes ago The chairman of moderate Hurriyat Conference was also reportedly put under house arrest. Hurriyat Conference Chairman and Chief Cleric of Jammu and Kashmir Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. Photo: PTI/File. Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute now Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir authorities have barred congregational Eid prayers from taking place at the Eidgah grounds in Srinagar today (June 7) without specifying any reason in writing. The chairman of moderate Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was also reportedly put under house arrest. In a post on X, Mirwaiz, who is also the chief cleric of Kashmir, said that the Jamia Masjid, Kashmir's biggest mosque in the summer capital Srinagar, was also locked by the authorities where the Eid prayer was scheduled to be organised on Saturday morning. Mirwaiz said that the grand mosque was closed on the eve of Eid for the seventh consecutive year following the reading down of Article 370 when Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated and demoted into two Union territories by the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP)-led Union government. 'In a Muslim-majority region, Muslims are deprived of their fundamental right to pray — even on their most important religious occasion celebrated across the world! What a shame on those who rule over us, and on those elected by the people who choose to remain silent as our rights are trampled over, again and again,' he said. Mirwaiz told The Wire that security forces barricaded the entry to his house on Saturday morning without any official intimation, 'They didn't allow me to come out to lead the Eid prayers. It is an attack on the basic religious right of the Muslims of Kashmir,' he said. No permission In a statement on Friday (June 6), Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid, the managing body of the historic mosque, said that the authorities didn't give permission for organising the Eid prayers at the Eidgah ground where thousands of people from different parts of Kashmir gathered to participate in the congregational prayers when J&K was a state. The managing body's statement said that it 'deeply regrets' the denial of permission for organising the prayer at the Eidgah ground which was planned 'in keeping with the longstanding Islamic tradition and the collective religious sentiment of the people'. The statement said that due to the refusal, the congregational prayers were going to be organised at Jamia Masjid on Saturday morning where Mirwaiz would deliver sermon 'on the philosophy and spirit of Eid and Qurbani (sacrifice)'. 'Auqaf urges all worshippers to attend the Eid prayers at Jama Masjid in large numbers and partake in the message of unity, sacrifice, and submission to the will of Allah (SWT) that Eid-ul-Adha embodies,' the statement said. However, the 14th century architectural marvel in Nowhatta locality of downtown Srinagar was closed on Saturday with police and paramilitary troopers turning away the worshippers who tried to gather for the Eid prayers while Mirwaiz was put under house-detention. A flock of pigeons flies past Jamia Masjid, Kashmir's oldest mosque in Nowhatta locality of downtown Srinagar, amid snowfall on December 27, 2024. Photo: Ubaid Mukhtar. This is not the first time that the authorities have locked Kashmir's largest mosque for worshippers on the eve of Eid without specifying any reason in writing. After J&K was bifurcated and split into two union territories, authorities have not allowed the Anjuman to organise congregational prayers at the mosque on sacred days of the Islamic calendar. On March 31, the mosque was locked by authorities on Eid-ul-Fitr while Mirwaiz was also put under house arrest. Authorities have also closed the mosque on the occasions of important islamic events including on Fridays, Shab-e-Qadr and Jummat-ul-Vida. J&K's security administration, which is under the Union home ministry, has unofficially cited the fears of law and order breakdown in the sensitive downtown locality which has been an epicentre of anti-India and pro-freedom protests to justify the ban of congregational prayers. Meanwhile, Eid prayers were held in the rest of the Union territory with thousands of people congregating in major shrines and mosques, including at the Asar-e-Sharief in Hazratbal of Srinagar, Khanqah-e-Moula in Budgam district's Chrari Sharief and other mosques and religious places on Saturday to mark the occasion. Following the reading down of Article 370 in 2019, the BJP-led Waqf board of J&K has taken over the management of most shrines and mosques in the Union territory, a decision which has been criticised by the Mirwaiz and other political parties. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments. Make a contribution to Independent Journalism Related News The Search for the 'Bandung Spirit' The Grand Tamasha of Jammu and Kashmir Politics Unchallenged at Home and Abroad: Jawaharlal Nehru's Leadership With the Non-Aligned Movement As Plane to Srinagar Faced Storm Mid-Air, Request to Detour into Pak Airspace Turned Down Lone NC MP in All-Party Delegations to Not Join His Group, Cites Urs at Native Village Allahabad HC Upholds Trial Court's Order For Survey of Sambhal's Shahi Jama Masjid India Revokes Security Clearance To Turkish Airport Services Firm, Defers Initiation of Ambassador Kharge Alleges Modi Cancelled J&K Visit Due to Intel Report Before Pahalgam Attack India-Pakistan Stand-Off: Main Updates of May 10 About Us Contact Us Support Us © Copyright. All Rights Reserved.
