India and Bhutan discuss technological and capacity building collaboration on boundary-related work

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

New Delhi, March 7 (IANS) India and Bhutan on Friday discussed boundary-related field matters while expressing satisfaction at the work completed by respective field survey teams and other stakeholders on the issue.

The two sides also discussed the potential for technological and capacity building collaboration relating to survey and boundary-related work, as per the priorities of both the governments, during the two-day meeting held between the officials from government of India and Bhutan’s Office of International Boundaries in New Delhi to review matters relating to boundary-related field work.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Indian side was led by Surveyor General of India Hitesh Kumar S. Makwana while Dasho Letho T Tangbi, Secretary, International Boundaries, in the government of Bhutan headed the delegation from the neighbouring country.

Both sides also finalised the work plan for the next three field seasons.

“India and Bhutan enjoy unique ties of friendship and cooperation, underpinned by mutual trust, shared values, and utmost goodwill at all levels. The meeting was held in a cordial and friendly atmosphere and is in keeping with the tradition of regular dialogues in all sectors of bilateral cooperation,” read a statement issued by the MEA.

India and Bhutan share a common perception of their strategic interests and cooperate closely on security issues and border management. India is also Bhutan’s largest trade and development partner, and source of supplies of most of the essential commodities imported by Bhutan.

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar stated last month how India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy since 2014 has made significant progress, whether it is Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal or Myanmar.

“We have seen new roads, checkpoints, rail links, waterways, power grids, fuel pipelines and transit facilities. And there is much more to come in the days ahead,” said Jaishankar in a session titled ‘Act East, Act Fast and Act First’ organised during the Advantage Assam 2.0 summit on February 25.

During his landmark visit to Bhutan last year, Primer Minister Narendra Modi had appreciated the Bhutanese King’s vision of the Gelephu Mindfulness City, which will lead to economic prosperity and development in Bhutan and in the region in a sustainable manner, and further strengthen economic and investment linkages between India and Bhutan.

“Be it a new airport for better air connectivity, be it new rail links between Gelephu to Kokrajhar and Samtse to Banarhat, be it operations of waterways through the Brahmaputra, we will soon see these projects completed swiftly. Integrated Check Posts will also be built to strengthen trade infrastructure,” said PM Modi after being conferred with Bhutan’s highest National Award the ‘Order of the Druk Gyalpo’ by the King of Bhutan in Thimphu on March 22, 2024.

–IANS

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Maha govt cracks down on fake birth and death certificates, amends registration laws

Mumbai, March 12 (IANS) The Maharashtra government, on Wednesday, released a notification curbing measures to prevent Bangladeshis and Rohingyas from obtaining fake certificates in the state.

State Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule in his statement made in both the Houses of State Legislature that the menace of foreign nationals, taking advantage of loopholes in the government system to obtain birth and death registration certificates, will now be curbed.

“The procedure for delayed birth and death registration has been finalised and announced that new changes will be implemented in Maharashtra from today as per the government notification issued by the Public Health Department. Three levels of verification have been set for issuing these certificates which will be issued after fulfilling 17 points. However, if the documents (evidence) attached by the applicant are found to be fake, immediate criminal action will be taken,” the Minister said.

He added that the process for delayed registrations, as per the Birth and Death Registration Act of 1969 and Maharashtra Birth and Death Registration Rules of 2000, has been clearly defined.

According to the Minister, the Birth and Death Registration Act, 1969, has been amended to ensure transparency and curb the distribution of fake certificates in birth and death registration.

Accordingly, birth and death certificates will now be issued at a faster pace and direct criminal action will be taken if a false certificate is issued.

Birth and death certificates are required for school admission, passport, 7/12 records and other educational matters.

To ensure that citizens receive birth and death certificates in a timely manner, the moratorium on issuing late birth and death certificates has been lifted as per the Revenue Department’s order dated January 21, 2025.

“Birth and death certificates are a very important requirement and were also being misused. This Act has been amended to prevent this. Now no one will be able to misuse this. If done, one will have to face criminal action,” Minister Bawankule said.

“Birth and death registrations will now be treated as quasi-judicial matters as it will need rigorous scrutiny. Applications for certificates for events more than a year old must be backed by substantial evidence. Failure to provide valid proof will result in criminal charges. Certificates will be issued only after verifying records from the place of birth or death. Officials, from village officers to district collectors, have been directed to enforce strict checks.”

In order to ensure transparency and prevent distribution of fake certificates in the process of issuing late birth and death certificates, a comprehensive procedure has been fixed by a government decision with the help of the Public Health Department regarding the procedure for late registration of births and deaths under the Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1969, and the Amendment Act, 2023.

In cases where information regarding the registration of births and deaths is received after a period of more than one year, the Authorised Magistrate at the place where such person was born and died shall ensure the accuracy of the information and charge a late fee, thereby fulfilling several legal requirements.

An improved provision has been made for taking such records.

All applications will undergo police verification, and final approval will be based on the police department’s report.

This move aims to curb the misuse of birth certificates for illegal settlements, ensuring a more transparent and accountable registration process.

The government’s crackdown comes after it had received complaints regarding the distribution of fake birth certificates to foreign nationals.

In accordance with those complaints, a “Special Investigation Committee (SIC)” was constituted by the Home Department under the chairmanship of the Special Inspector General of Police, Nashik Zone.

–IANS

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HM Amit Shah to chair meet on security threat from drug trafficking tomorrow

New Delhi, Jan 10 (IANS) Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair a regional conference on “Drug Trafficking and National Security” on Saturday to address the growing concern of drug trafficking and its impact on national security.

The conference, organised by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), will also see the launch of the Drug Disposal Fortnight, the inauguration of the new office complex of the NCB’s Bhopal zonal unit and the extension of the MANAS-2 helpline to all 36 states and Union Territories.

The discussions at the conference are expected to focus on drug trafficking’s impact on national security, with a special focus on eight states and Union Territories of northern India.

The conference will focus on the sharing of real-time information from the National Narcotics Helpline ‘MANAS’ portal with the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of states and Union Territories, evaluating the progress of states in combating drug trafficking, and assessing the effectiveness of the Narcotics Coordination Mechanism (NCORD).

It will also address strengthening and enhancing the functionality of State Forensic Science Laboratories (SFSLs), utilizing the NIDAAN database to bolster efforts against drug trafficking, implementing provisions of the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act, and establishing special NDPS courts for the speedy trial of drug-related cases.

The conclave shall aim to foster a whole-of-government approach to ensure comprehensive collaboration among all agencies to combat drug trafficking and abuse effectively.

During the drug disposal fortnight – January 11 to January 25 – a total of 44,792 kilograms of seized narcotics, whose international market value is Rs 2411 crore, will be disposed of.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is implementing a three-pronged strategy to achieve a drug-free India by 2047. This includes strengthening institutional frameworks, enhancing coordination among narcotics agencies, and launching a massive public awareness campaign.

The Conference will be attended by the Governors, Lt Governors, Chief Ministers and senior officers from the eight participating states and UTs. Senior officers from various ministries, departments, and law enforcement agencies will also attend the conference.

–IANS

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ED attaches assets worth Rs 1.52 crore in demonetisation period bank fraud case

Lucknow, Jan 21 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Lucknow Zonal Office, has provisionally attached movable assets worth Rs 1.52 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in the ongoing investigation into the Netar Sabharwal and others bank fraud case.

The attached assets consist of two fixed deposits belonging to Manmohan Agarwal, the proprietor of M/s Shiv Jewellers, valued at approximately Rs 1.22 crore, and Mayur Agarwal, the proprietor of M/s JS Jewellers, valued at approximately Rs 30.76 lakh.

The ED initiated its investigation based on an FIR filed by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Ghaziabad, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The FIR alleges that during the demonetisation period in November-December 2016, certain bank accounts were fraudulently used for cash deposits.

According to the ED’s investigation, it was found that cash was deposited into specific bank accounts during the demonetisation period. The probe further revealed that officials from Jammu & Kashmir Bank conspired with private individuals, committing forgery by falsifying bank records to facilitate the large cash deposits during this period.

The investigation also uncovered that the fraudulently deposited cash was layered and routed through a series of suspicious transactions, eventually being camouflaged as legitimate business transactions before being transferred to the final beneficiaries.

The ED identified M/s Shiv Jewellers, owned by Manmohan Agarwal, and M/s JS Jewellers, owned by Mayur Agarwal, as the ultimate beneficiaries of these deposits. As a result, the ED has attached fixed deposits worth Rs 1.52 crore in their names.

The investigation is ongoing, with further action anticipated.

–IANS

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