Top MHA official reviews security, infrastructure along India-Myanmar border in Manipur

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Imphal, Dec 20 (IANS) Secretary (Border Management) in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Rajendra Kumar, on Saturday visited Moreh in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district and carried out a comprehensive review of the security situation and infrastructure along the India-Myanmar border, officials said.

A senior official in Imphal said that the visit of the Border Management Secretary was dedicated to reviewing the current security architecture and infrastructure projects along the strategically vital India-Myanmar border.

During his tour, Kumar carried out an on-ground inspection of frontline border posts and surveillance installations, engaging with personnel to address operational challenges and gather feedback on enhancing field effectiveness.

In a high-level review meeting involving the Assam Rifles, local administration and various security agencies, the MHA (BM) official emphasised the necessity of optimising patrolling and strengthening real-time intelligence sharing.

He advocated for the rapid integration of modern monitoring techniques, specifically the deployment of drones and advanced sensor systems, to ensure a robust and “smart” border management framework.

The secretary commended the security forces for their dedication in a sensitive environment, reiterating the government’s resolve to safeguard national integrity while facilitating legitimate cross-border trade.

He urged all agencies to maintain peak operational readiness and proactive coordination to curb illegal activities and ensure regional stability. Meanwhile, Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla also last month reviewed the ongoing border-fencing work along the India-Myanmar border.

A Raj Bhavan official had said that, chairing a meeting, the Governor reviewed the overall progress of the construction works along the 398 km India-Myanmar border with Manipur.

Senior Border Road Organisation (BRO) officers, including the Additional Director General Border Roads (East) and the Commandant of 25 Border Road Task Force (BRTF), briefed the Governor on the progress of the fencing, key operational issues, and the overall performance of the project.

They also flagged concerns related to security and communication and put forward recommendations to ensure faster and smoother execution of the remaining works.

The Governor appreciated the progress made so far and conveyed that necessary support will be extended by the government to address the concerns raised by the BRO.

The meeting was also attended by Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel, Director General of Police Rajiv Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, Commissioners and senior officers from the BRO and Assam Rifles. Deputy Commissioners of several border districts were also present at the meeting.

Earlier in June, the Manipur Governor and Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan held a high-level meeting and discussed ongoing fencing work along the India-Myanmar border and the overall law and order situation in the state.

The border fencing work was undertaken by ‘Project Sewak’ of the Border Roads Task Force (BRTF), which is also looking after road construction in Nagaland and Manipur. The BRTF is a unit under the BRO.

–IANS

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SC hints at appointing a committee to manage Shri Banke Bihari Temple

New Delhi, Aug 4 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Monday hinted at referring to the Allahabad High Court a batch of petitions challenging the Uttar Pradesh government’s 2025 Ordinance that effectively takes over the management of the revered Shri Banke Bihari Temple in Mathura-Vrindavan.

A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi also suggested appointing a committee headed by a retired High Court judge to supervise the temple’s affairs until the validity of the recent Ordinance is adjudicated.

The Justice Kant-led Bench was dealing with multiple petitions opposing the Uttar Pradesh government’s move to assume control of the temple’s administration, which has traditionally been governed under a private management structure based on a 1939 scheme.

It said the proposed management committee could include the District Collector and other state government authorities, while emphasising that the rituals must continue in accordance with the traditions of the Haridasi Sampraday.

During the hearing, the apex court also questioned the “tearing hurry” in which the Uttar Pradesh government promulgated the Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025. It took exception to the “clandestine manner” in which the state government obtained permission from the Supreme Court through its May 15 judgment to use temple funds for the corridor development project.

Noting that the approval was obtained by filing an application in a pending civil dispute, the Justice Kant-led Bench orally remarked that the top court would consider recalling its earlier directions allowing the state government to use temple funds.

It adjourned the hearing on the pleas challenging the state government’s recent Ordinance till Tuesday to allow Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj time to seek instructions on its suggestion.

One of the pleas contended that the Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025, amounts to state interference in religious affairs, undermining the autonomy of the current temple management committee.

It argued that there was no compelling reason for the state government to issue such an Ordinance, and that the government had offered no sufficient justification for taking over control of the temple’s administration.

The petition, filed by advocate Sankalp Goswami, said that the provisions of the Ordinance clearly infringes the right of the Haridasi/Sakhi Sampraday to manage its own affairs in the matter of religion and right of members of the denomination to individually practise, profess and propagate their religion by seeking to alter the essential religious practices, rituals, customs and traditions which will have an effect of displeasing the deity and would make the entire denomination extinct.

“Section 5 (1)(i), 5 (i), 6(8) of the Ordinance directly violates Article 26(c) and (d) inasmuch as it permanently takes away the right of administration from the religious denomination altogether and vests it in non-denominational secular authority. Thus, in the cloak of better management, the Ordinance travelling beyond regulation has completely taken over the administration and management from the religious denomination and created a totally new body where the religious denomination has been reduced to redundancy,” said a plea, adding that the temple is neither public property nor a state-owned trust.

–IANS

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Obscene video & rape case: Habitual offender with no remorse, say SPPs, seek life term for Revanna

Bengaluru, Aug 2 (IANS) Special Public Prosecutors on Saturday urged the Special Court for MPs and MLAs in Bengaluru to award the maximum punishment — life imprisonment — to former MP Prajwal Revanna, convicted in a rape and obscene video case. Arguing on the quantum of sentence, they said such a punishment would send a strong message to society and serve as a deterrent.

Appearing for the victim, Special Public Prosecutor B.N. Jagadish said the woman — a poor, uneducated domestic worker earning Rs 10,000 a month — was repeatedly raped, blackmailed, and forced to flee her home. “She became an easy target for a powerful criminal. After seeing the video, she even contemplated suicide,” he told the court.

“The sexual assault video reflects Prajwal’s sadistic mindset. He was a sitting MP, fully aware of the law, yet committed such acts. He is a habitual offender who recorded videos of multiple women. The maximum punishment must be imposed,” Jagadish said, adding that the convict had shown no remorse.

“A strong message must be sent that wealth and political power do not guarantee leniency. Courts must counter the public perception that influential people get away with lighter sentences while ordinary citizens face the full brunt of the law,” he argued.

Jagadish further pointed out that the victim was not only physically assaulted but mentally tortured, and that there was an attempt to destroy evidence and manipulate her statement. “Prajwal threatened the victim with death. He is facing multiple such cases.”

Special Public Prosecutor Ashok Nayak also pressed for the harshest punishment, noting that as a Member of Parliament, Prajwal had committed a crime of utmost gravity. “He was elected to serve the public. What did he do with that trust? He must be punished with life imprisonment and a hefty fine. He’s a crorepati — the victim must be adequately compensated,” Nayak said.

In her response, senior counsel Nayana Mayagowda, representing Prajwal, argued that the prosecution was trying to sway the court with public sentiment. “He is a young former MP who entered politics not for personal gain. Why did these videos surface during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections? This is politically motivated,” she submitted.

She claimed that the victim was not ostracized and is now living with her husband and children. “It is Prajwal whose life has been destroyed. The media has tarnished his reputation, and he has already spent 1.4 years in jail,” she said.

This prompted strong objections from SPP Jagadish, who called the remarks against the victim inappropriate. Mayagowda, however, insisted Prajwal had suffered more.

The court also recorded the final statement of Prajwal Revanna, who turned emotional and broke down during his submission.

The quantum of punishment is scheduled to be pronounced any time soon.

Prajwal, grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, was convicted on Friday in a case involving rape and circulation of obscene videos. The complaint was filed by a domestic worker from K.R. Nagar. During the trial, the court examined 26 pieces of evidence. He is facing three other similar cases.

Videos allegedly showing Prajwal sexually assaulting women surfaced during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He fled the country after polling and was arrested upon his return to Bengaluru on May 31, 2024.

–IANS

mka/skp

Centre extends tax exemption benefits to IREDA bonds

New Delhi, July 10 (IANS) The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has notified bonds issued by Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) as “long-term specified assets” that are eligible for tax exemption benefits under section 54EC of the Income-tax Act.

The tax benefit has kicked in with effect from July 9, 2025.

The CBDT notification states that bonds redeemable after five years and issued by IREDA on or after the notification date will qualify for tax exemption benefits under section 54EC, of the Income Tax Act, 1961, which allows capital gains tax exemption on investments in specified bonds.

The proceeds from these bonds will be utilised exclusively for renewable energy projects capable of servicing debt through their project revenues, without dependence on State Governments for debt servicing, according to the official statement.

“Eligible investors can save tax on Long Term Capital Gain (LTCG) up to Rs 50 lakh by investing in these Bonds in a Financial Year. IREDA will benefit in terms of lower cost of funds, which is a significant development to support the expeditious development of the renewable energy sector.

Welcoming the notification, IREDA Chairman & Managing Director Pradip Kumar Das said, “We are deeply grateful to the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and Central Board of Direct Taxes for this valuable policy initiative. This recognition by the Government reinforces IREDA’s pivotal role in accelerating renewable energy financing in the country. The tax-exempt status for our bonds will offer an attractive investment avenue while ensuring increased capital availability for green energy projects, contributing to India’s 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity target by 2030.”

This move is expected to attract wider participation from investors seeking tax-saving instruments and strengthen the renewable energy financing ecosystem in the country.

IREDA announced a robust 49 per cent jump in net profit to Rs 502 crore for the Jan-March quarter of the financial year 2024-25 compared to the corresponding figure of Rs 337 crore in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year.

The country’s largest pure-play green financing NBFC has recorded a revenue of Rs 1,392 crore during the fourth quarter, which represents a 37.7 per cent increase from Rs 1,916 crore in the Q4 of FY 2023-24.

The government-owned NBFC’s loan sanctions for the fourth quarter recorded a 27 per cent rise to Rs 47,453 crore, while loan disbursements for the quarter rose 20 per cent to Rs 30,168 crore.

–IANS

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