Latest news with #Long-TermVisas
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
CG govt to crackdown on illegal B'deshi nat'ls; Renewed focus resurfaces around polls: Oppn
Raipur: In a move to combat 'serious security risks', Chhattisgarh govt has announced a statewide campaign to identify and take action against illegal Bangladeshi nationals and immigrants, and individuals residing without valid documents. The campaign follows a resolution passed during a high-level meeting chaired by chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai on April 28. Deputy chief minister and home minister Vijay Sharma said that special task forces (STFs) will be established in every district to carry out this mission."This is a matter of national security. These unauthorized individuals not only violate civil rights but pose serious security risks," Sharma said in a opposition Congress, meanwhile, asked for the data behind these campaigns, questioning their results and effectiveness, "How many were expelled during past campaigns? How many were even identified? These figures should be made public," former CM Bhupesh Baghel said. Baghel also alleged that such narratives tend to resurface around election time, especially in border states like West Bengal, insinuating political motives behind the renewed focus. He also questioned the outcome of the police officers' door-to-door the other hand, deputy CM Sharma also warned that the crackdown will not be limited to immigrants alone. Strict action will be taken against individuals involved in creating fake documents or those aiding illegal migrants—such as contractors, scrap dealers, tent house operators, and garden workers—who facilitate such entries for minor profits.A circular from the Police Headquarters has instructed all district police chiefs to act on the directives issued by the central govt. These include identifying and verifying all foreigners, especially Bangladeshi nationals, residing unlawfully within the state. In areas where migrant laborers have been brought in by contractors, police have been told to conduct thorough verification to ensure no illegal immigrants are being employed or sheltered.1,800 Pakistani Visa Holders Identified in RaipurRaipur SSP Lal Umed Singh said that around 1,800 individuals, including two Muslims, are currently residing in the city on Pakistani visas, most of them belonging to the Hindu community. "All of them have been identified. Once we receive instructions from the Centre, appropriate action will be taken," Singh said. Those on Long-Term Visas (LTVs) are expected to apply for extensions in In a move to combat 'serious security risks', Chhattisgarh govt has announced a statewide campaign to identify and take action against illegal Bangladeshi nationals and immigrants, and individuals residing without valid documents. The campaign follows a resolution passed during a high-level meeting chaired by chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai on April 28. Deputy chief minister and home minister Vijay Sharma said that special task forces (STFs) will be established in every district to carry out this mission."This is a matter of national security. These unauthorized individuals not only violate civil rights but pose serious security risks," Sharma said in a opposition Congress, meanwhile, asked for the data behind these campaigns, questioning their results and effectiveness, "How many were expelled during past campaigns? How many were even identified? These figures should be made public," former CM Bhupesh Baghel said. Baghel also alleged that such narratives tend to resurface around election time, especially in border states like West Bengal, insinuating political motives behind the renewed focus. He also questioned the outcome of the police officers' door-to-door the other hand, deputy CM Sharma also warned that the crackdown will not be limited to immigrants alone. Strict action will be taken against individuals involved in creating fake documents or those aiding illegal migrants—such as contractors, scrap dealers, tent house operators, and garden workers—who facilitate such entries for minor profits.A circular from the Police Headquarters has instructed all district police chiefs to act on the directives issued by the central govt. These include identifying and verifying all foreigners, especially Bangladeshi nationals, residing unlawfully within the state. In areas where migrant laborers have been brought in by contractors, police have been told to conduct thorough verification to ensure no illegal immigrants are being employed or sheltered.1,800 Pakistani Visa Holders Identified in RaipurRaipur SSP Lal Umed Singh said that around 1,800 individuals, including two Muslims, are currently residing in the city on Pakistani visas, most of them belonging to the Hindu community. "All of them have been identified. Once we receive instructions from the Centre, appropriate action will be taken," Singh said. Those on Long-Term Visas (LTVs) are expected to apply for extensions in July. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Mother's Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
NDTV
06-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Meerut Woman Forced To Hand Over Kids To Pakistani Husband At Attari Border
Meerut: An inconsolable Sana on Monday handed over her two small children, aged three and one, to her Pakistani husband at the Attari border, in the latest incident of families being separated following the central government's decision to cancel the Short-Term Visas of the neighbouring country's citizens residing in India. Married to a doctor from Karachi, Sana from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh was forced to part with her three-year-old son and one-year-old daughter due to visa regulations and central government directives in the wake of the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam in which 26 civilians were killed on April 22. The family members who accompanied Sana said on Tuesday that she was inconsolable after sending her children, both Pakistani citizens, across the border. After the Indian government revoked the visas of Pakistani nationals, Sana passed on her small children to her husband at the Attari border. The children hold Pakistani passports while Sana remains an Indian citizen. Breaking into tears, Sana said, "I ask the government, why are mothers being separated from their children? What is my fault?" Sana said she had entered India on a 45-day visa and cannot return to Pakistan now as she has not yet been granted Pakistani citizenship. She married Bilal, a resident of Karachi, in 2020. She said it may take another four years to obtain Pakistani citizenship. Saradha police station in-charge Inspector Pratap Singh told PTI, "We informed Sana two days ago that, according to government orders, she must return the children to Pakistan. She has now completed the legal formalities at the border and handed them (children) over (to her husband)." According to the government decision, only Pakistani nationals living in India on Long-Term Visas (LTV) are allowed to stay while those on Short-Term Visas are being repatriated. Officials said the process of sending back Pakistani nationals had begun following the central government's decision after the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam.
New Indian Express
30-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Flag meetings suspended after Pahalgam attack, delaying return of BSF constable who crossed into Pakistan
CHANDIGARH: The accidental crossing of a BSF constable into Pakistani territory has become a diplomatic dead end, as Pakistan Rangers have suspended all flag meetings with Indian forces in the wake of the Shaw, a personnel of the 182 Battalion, inadvertently crossed into Pakistani territory on April 24 and was subsequently detained by the Pakistan Rangers. Under normal circumstances, such incidents are resolved swiftly through flag meetings. However, with the current diplomatic freeze, even efforts through formal channels have not yielded any results, a senior official said on condition of anonymity. 'The Pakistan Rangers have halted all flag meetings with the BSF. Had the situation been normal, the constable would have returned the same day. With diplomatic engagement also nearly suspended, the delay in Shaw's return continues,' the official said. BSF has lodged a formal protest with the Pakistan Rangers. A protest note was sent to the sector commander, but the Pakistani side has remained 'non-committal' regarding Shaw's whereabouts or a timeline for his return. Notably, four to five flag meetings had already taken place before the suspension. Sources indicate that Shaw is believed to have been moved to a Rangers base along the Lahore-Amritsar sector. Meanwhile, Rajni Shaw, the constable's wife, travelled from West Bengal to Punjab on Monday to follow up on the matter with senior officers of the BSF's Western Command. On Tuesday evening, she was informed that the scheduled flag meeting for Wednesday had been cancelled. In the past, incidents involving inadvertent border crossings by soldiers were typically resolved through flag meetings, with the personnel returned promptly. Separately, the deadline for Pakistani nationals on short-term and medical visas to leave India ended yesterday. A total of 887 Pakistani nationals have returned via the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari in the last six days, including 110 on Tuesday alone. Since April 24, around 1,491 people — including Indian nationals and Pakistani nationals with a No Obligation to Return to India (NORI) certificate and Long-Term Visas (LTV) — have entered India through the ICP at Attari. Of these, 470 people crossed into India on Tuesday itself.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Pakistani LTV holders stranded after Pahalgam incident return to Nagpur
Nagpur: The long wait and uncertainty over returning home ended for many families in Nagpur's Jaripatka locality and other parts of the state. After being put on hold for four days, Pakistani soldiers at the finally opened the gates late on Monday afternoon for Pakistani citizens living in India on Long-Term Visas (LTV), allowing them to cross over to the Indian side. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now More than 40 Pakistani nationals from Nagpur, living on LTVs, were stranded due to the post-Pahalgam situation and were unable to return to India. They had been on brief visits to Pakistan. Naresh Parchai had gone to Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, on April 15 for a family function and planned to stay for two months. A resident of Jaripatka, he is a Pakistani citizen who has been living in India for the last 15 years. After the Pahalgam incident and the resulting directives, he rushed 740km to the Wagah border, hoping to return to Nagpur quickly — only to be stopped by Pakistani Rangers from exiting. He was told that only Indian citizens were being allowed through, and not Pakistani citizens, even if they had valid LTVs for India. The wait continued for four days until a relieved Parchai finally crossed over on Monday. Speaking from Amritsar airport, Parchai, who was set to board a plane to Delhi and then reach Nagpur, expressed happiness at the prospect of meeting his wife and children again. "There was a lot of uncertainty. The Rangers were polite, but only Indian citizens were allowed to go. Those like me, who are living in India on an LTV, were stopped at the gate," he said. A delay in returning would have led to Parchai losing his LTV, leaving him no choice but to remain in Pakistan. Manohar Advani, who had travelled with his family of six including his parents, also waited for four days before finally being allowed to cross by the Rangers. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Speaking to TOI from Amritsar, Advani said he had submitted the final papers for Indian citizenship before leaving for Pakistan on a no-objection-return-to-India (NORI) visa. "The Rangers said they had no orders to let Pakistani citizens leave, which included Indian LTV holders," he said. Pakistani citizens living in India can visit Pakistan briefly on a NORI visa. This visa is valid for three months, and any delay in returning causes the LTV to lapse. If their stay had been extended, many like Advani, Parchai, and others from Jaripatka might have lost their LTVs — along with their dreams of becoming Indian citizens. Meanwhile in Nagpur, Ajeet Sewani was eagerly awaiting the return of his wife and children, who reached Delhi by Tuesday afternoon after crossing over. Even Ravi Kukreja of Jaripatka expressed relief as his wife Kamlibai had just returned. TOI had first reported Kamlibai's case last week. Rajesh Jhambia of the Sind-Hindi Panchayat said it was a relief that they could finally return. "LTV holders have been living here with families for years. Their lives are in India, and if they had not been allowed to return, many might have been uprooted," he said.
Express Tribune
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Wagah border reopens for two days
Despite ongoing tensions between Pakistan and India, the Wagah-Attari border has been temporarily reopened for two days to facilitate citizens holding Long-Term Visas (LTV) and No Objection Return to India (NORI) visas. Security sources confirmed that the move aims to assist individuals residing across both countries who were facing difficulties returning due to the recent border closure. On Monday, 129 Pakistani passport holders possessing NORI visas crossed into India via the Wagah Border. However, no Indian citizens holding Pakistani long-term visas arrived in Pakistan, according to sources. The arrival of Indian nationals with Pakistani long-term visas is expected on Tuesday and Wednesday. Diplomatic officials explained that Pakistan grants long-term visas to Indian citizens, particularly women, who have married Pakistani nationals and settled permanently in Pakistan but have not yet acquired Pakistani citizenship. These individuals, when travelling to India to meet family or attend events, do not require a new visa to return to Pakistan. Conversely, India issues long-term visas alongside a NORI certificate to Pakistani nationals residing in India or married there. The arrangement allows them to visit Pakistan and return to India without needing a fresh visa. Following the recent escalation in tensions, both countries had closed the Wagah-Attari border, creating challenges for long-term and NORI visa holders who were stranded during visits to their home countries. While both governments had cancelled visas issued for business, tourism, and medical purposes, allowing those affected a brief window to return home, the permissions did not initially extend to long-term visa holders. As a result, many Pakistani and Indian nationals were left stranded on either side of the border for the past four days, awaiting clearance to cross.
