Latest news with #UnionHomeMinistry
Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Foreign Embassy staffer put up ‘Wanted' posters of Netanyahu: Delhi Police report to MHA
The Delhi Police have approached the Union Home Ministry after they found that a foreign citizen working with an Embassy of a Western European country had allegedly put up posters carrying a photo of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alongside the word 'Wanted' in the national capital's Chanakyapuri area, The Indian Express has learnt. A senior police officer at the Delhi Police headquarters said the matter came to light around 7.30 am on May 29 when personnel from the Chankyapuri police station spotted two such posters on electricity poles – one near the Carmel Convent School in Malcha Marg and another near the American Embassy School. 'They informed their seniors and were asked to remove the posters,' the officer said. Police personnel were also instructed to scan all CCTV cameras in the area to identify who was responsible. 'After scanning footage from around 50 CCTV cameras, police personnel found that a man wearing a blue shirt and black trousers came on a bicycle at around 5.30 am and put up one of the posters on an electricity pole. After scanning multiple CCTV cameras, it has been revealed that he left from one of the flats in Sardar Patel Marg,' the officer said. A team from the Chankyapuri police station reached his residence and found that the occupant works with the embassy of a Western European nation. Police left after noting down all his details. Given that the person is an embassy staffer and has immunity, the Delhi police later decided to escalate the matter and seek clarity on how to proceed. 'Senior police officers of the New Delhi range were asked by the PHQ to prepare a report for the Ministry of Home Affairs, which is expected to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs,' a source said, adding that the report was communicated to the MHA last week and a response is awaited. The embassy concerned and the Delhi police spokesperson did not respond to queries seeking a comment. Mahender Singh Manral is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. He is known for his impactful and breaking stories. He covers the Ministry of Home Affairs, Investigative Agencies, National Investigative Agency, Central Bureau of Investigation, Law Enforcement Agencies, Paramilitary Forces, and internal security. Prior to this, Manral had extensively reported on city-based crime stories along with that he also covered the anti-corruption branch of the Delhi government for a decade. He is known for his knack for News and a detailed understanding of stories. He also worked with Mail Today as a senior correspondent for eleven months. He has also worked with The Pioneer for two years where he was exclusively covering crime beat. During his initial days of the career he also worked with The Statesman newspaper in the national capital, where he was entrusted with beats like crime, education, and the Delhi Jal Board. A graduate in Mass Communication, Manral is always in search of stories that impact lives. ... Read More
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Maha gets Centre's nod to receive foreign donations for CM Relief Fund
MUMBAI: In a first-of-its-kind move, the Union Home Ministry has granted permission to the Maharashtra government to accept foreign donations for the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF), marking a significant policy shift under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). The CMRF, operated by the state government, provides financial assistance to individuals affected by natural disasters, accidents, communal violence, terror attacks, and also extends aid for medical treatment and educational support. Until now, the fund—like those in other states—could only receive domestic contributions from individuals and companies. 'This is the first time any state's CM Relief Fund has been allowed to receive foreign contributions under the FCRA,' confirmed Rameshwar Naik, a BJP functionary who currently heads the fund. 'The permission was granted by the Union Home Ministry on Friday,' he added. The development comes in contrast to a previous decision by the Centre in 2018, when it declined the Kerala government's request to accept foreign aid in the aftermath of devastating floods. Officials in the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said the move will enable the fund to tap into corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds from foreign companies operating in Maharashtra. 'There are many multinational firms here with significant CSR allocations. These resources can now be used to help more people in need,' an official said. The CMRF is registered as a trust under the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act and is administered by a dedicated cell in the CMO. While officials can sanction aid within a fixed limit, the chief minister has discretionary powers to approve financial assistance of up to ₹7–8 lakh per medical case. Donations to government relief funds are closely regulated by the Union Home Ministry under the FCRA to prevent misuse and ensure transparency. As per law, any trust, NGO, or organisation seeking to receive foreign funds must first register under the Act. The original legislation, enacted in 1976, was overhauled in 2010 and amended again in 2020—most notably to grant exemptions to the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES). Former CMRF official Mangesh Chivate revealed that efforts to secure this exemption had been ongoing for years. 'Even during Eknath Shinde's tenure, letters were written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah seeking this approval. This hasn't happened overnight,' Chivate said. According to official data from the CMO, the CMRF disbursed ₹4.95 crore to 525 beneficiaries in Mumbai during the first four months of 2025. During his term as CM, Shinde sanctioned ₹419 crore to over 51,000 beneficiaries, while the previous Uddhav Thackeray-led government had extended aid worth ₹2.5 crore.
Mint
2 days ago
- Health
- Mint
COVID-19 cases in India rise to 3,395; Delhi woman among 4 dead in 24 hours, 68 test positive in Maharashtra — 10 points
COVID-19 Cases in India: COVID-19 cases are rising across India, with the country reporting over 3,000 cases and four deaths as of Saturday, May 31. Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka and West Bengal have the highest number of active cases, according to data from the Union Home Ministry. 1. India now officially has over 3,000 active COVID-19 cases. According to data from the Ministry of Health, the number of active COVID-19 cases in India were 3,395 as of Saturday. The highest number of cases are in Kerala at 1,336, followed by Maharashtra and Delhi. 2. India has reported four Covid-related deaths in the last 24 hours The deceased persons are from Delhi, Kerala, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh. As per data, 1,435 people have been discharged from hospitals over the past 24 hours. 3. The severity of infections is low, with most of the patients under home care. There is no reason to worry, according to sources quoted by PTI. The situation is being closely monitored, they said. 4. Amid 467 active cases in Maharashtra, the state on Saturday reported 68 new COVID-19 cases. Of the new cases, 30 were detected in Mumbai and 15 from Pune Municipal Corporation limits. Cases were also detected in Kalyan-Dombivali and Raigad. 5. Meanwhile, the Karnataka health department has asked people to stay calm, remain vigilant, and work with health authorities to prevent further spread and ensure public safety. It also issued directions to schools amid the current COVID-19 surge, as they are scheduled to open in June. It has asked government and private schools to take precautions in the interest of school children's health. 6. Delhi has reported one death related to COVID-19 on Saturday. A 60-year-old woman who tested positive for COVID-19 died, marking the first fatality since the recent surge. 'The woman was suffering from acute intestinal obstruction post-laparotomy. The COVID-19 finding was incidental,' an official said. 7. A 63-year-old man with co-morbidities and who tested positive for COVID-19 died at a private hospital in Bengaluru on Saturday. This takes the number of COVID-related deaths in Karnataka to four amid the recent surge. According to the health department statement, the elderly patient who was fully vaccinated was on post operative chemotherapy and had co-morbidities like pulmonary TB with squamous cell carcinoma of buccal mucosa. 8. Since the start of the year, seven COVID-19 patients have died in Karnataka, six of whom had co-morbidities. Adequate coronavirus testing and treatment facilities are available in the state and people should not panic, the health department said. 9. The Karnataka health department has further issued a public advisory, asking people to practice responsible behaviour by wearing masks in crowded places, maintaining physical distancing, and practicing good hygiene. 10. Two more persons tested positive for Covid in Odisha, taking the total number of cases in the state to seven, Health Secretary Aswathy S said on Saturday. Urging people not to panic, she said the condition of all the patients is stable.
The Print
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
Civil defence exercise ‘Operation Shield' conducted in Punjab and Haryana
Scenes of volunteers enacting as injured being taken on stretchers to ambulances and fire being put out played out during the mock drills. The emergency situations were simulated in all districts of the two neighbouring states during the exercise, which began on Saturday evening. Chandigarh, May 31 (PTI) The authorities in Punjab and Haryana on Saturday conducted a major statewide civil defence exercise named 'Operation Shield' to enhance emergency preparedness and response capabilities. The drills were aimed at evaluating and enhancing the efficacy of emergency response mechanisms in real-time situations. The mock drills saw coordinated participation from multiple agencies, including the fire and emergency services, police, health department and disaster management authorities. The trained volunteers from the Civil Defence, National Service Scheme (NSS) and National Cadet Corps (NCC) also participated in the exercise. This drill was earlier scheduled for May 29, but it was postponed as per instructions of the Union Home Ministry. The comprehensive drill was organised under the guidance of the Union Home Ministry to simulate critical incidents such as air raids, drone attacks and other wartime scenarios in the light of current national security concerns. The exercise was conducted across Punjab and Haryana. In Punjab's Hoshiarpur, the drill was based on a hypothetical scenario in which a swarm of enemy drones attacked a military station, prompting the station commander to seek immediate assistance from the civil administration. In response, a coordinated effort was simulated to rescue and evacuate 20 affected individuals to a safe location. Speaking at the conclusion of the drill, Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain said that the exercise was part of the government's proactive preparedness strategy to ensure efficient coordination and operational readiness of the administration during any crisis. She clarified that the drill was a routine preparedness measure and there was no cause for panic among residents. 'The primary objective of the mock drill is to mentally prepare the public for emergency situations and ensure seamless inter-departmental coordination,' said Jain, urging the youth to follow official guidelines and actively support awareness campaigns. The drill witnessed active participation from the Civil Defence, the fire department, medical teams, 12 Punjab NCC, police personnel and Home Guards. A detailed review of inter-agency coordination and swift response capabilities was also carried out during the exercise. Dasuya Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Kanwaljit Singh coordinated the drill in collaboration with the Punjab Police, Home Guards, Civil Defence, Civil Surgeon's office and the fire department, ensuring its successful execution. The event also drew attention from the local residents, many of whom appreciated the administration's initiative and emphasized the importance of such preparedness measures. The officials assured that similar drills would be held in future to further strengthen the district's emergency response mechanisms. An air raid warning siren was sounded in Punjab's Fazilka, a border district, at 6 pm following which the drill began. Jalalabad SDM Kanwarjit Singh said the main purpose of such drill was to keep oneself prepared in the event of any emergency situation. He emphasized the participation of people in such an exercise, stressing that any emergency situation can be dealt with in a better manner with public participation. PTI CHS AS AS This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Civil defence exercise 'Operation Shield' conducted in Punjab and Haryana
The authorities in Punjab and Haryana on Saturday conducted a major Statewide civil defence exercise named "Operation Shield" to enhance emergency preparedness and response capabilities. The emergency situations were simulated in all districts of the two neighbouring States during the exercise, which began on Saturday evening. Scenes of volunteers enacting as injured being taken on stretchers to ambulances and fire being put out played out during the mock drills. The drills were aimed at evaluating and enhancing the efficacy of emergency response mechanisms in real-time situations. The mock drills saw coordinated participation from multiple agencies, including the fire and emergency services, police, health department and disaster management authorities. The trained volunteers from the Civil Defence, National Service Scheme (NSS) and National Cadet Corps (NCC) also participated in the exercise. This drill was earlier scheduled for May 29, but it was postponed as per instructions of the Union Home Ministry. The comprehensive drill was organised under the guidance of the Union Home Ministry to simulate critical incidents such as air raids, drone attacks and other wartime scenarios in the light of current national security concerns. The exercise was conducted across Punjab and Haryana. In Punjab's Hoshiarpur, the drill was based on a hypothetical scenario in which a swarm of enemy drones attacked a military station, prompting the station commander to seek immediate assistance from the civil administration. In response, a coordinated effort was simulated to rescue and evacuate 20 affected individuals to a safe location. Speaking at the conclusion of the drill, Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain said that the exercise was part of the government's proactive preparedness strategy to ensure efficient coordination and operational readiness of the administration during any crisis. She clarified that the drill was a routine preparedness measure and there was no cause for panic among residents. "The primary objective of the mock drill is to mentally prepare the public for emergency situations and ensure seamless inter-departmental coordination," said Jain, urging the youth to follow official guidelines and actively support awareness campaigns. The drill witnessed active participation from the Civil Defence, the fire department, medical teams, 12 Punjab NCC, police personnel and Home Guards. A detailed review of inter-agency coordination and swift response capabilities was also carried out during the exercise. Dasuya Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Kanwaljit Singh coordinated the drill in collaboration with the Punjab Police, Home Guards, Civil Defence, Civil Surgeon's office and the fire department, ensuring its successful execution. The event also drew attention from the local residents, many of whom appreciated the administration's initiative and emphasized the importance of such preparedness measures. The officials assured that similar drills would be held in future to further strengthen the district's emergency response mechanisms. An air raid warning siren was sounded in Punjab's Fazilka, a border district, at 6 pm following which the drill began. Jalalabad SDM Kanwarjit Singh said the main purpose of such drill was to keep oneself prepared in the event of any emergency situation. He emphasized the participation of people in such an exercise, stressing that any emergency situation can be dealt with in a better manner with public participation.
