Author: LokMarg Publishing

Even after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s statement clarifying that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) will not be implemented in the state, people on Friday were seen standing anxiously in long queues inside the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) headquarters to collect important documents.

Hailing from South 24 Parganas district, Nazra Begum has been paying visits to the office for the past four days to get her daughter’s birth certificate.

Speaking to ANI, she said, “I am coming here regularly since last Monday to get my daughter’s birth certificate. I am really tensed because of all the talk around NRC. I have never visited a KMC office in my life but I am here to arrange all the important documents so that in future, no one from my family is left out.”

Farhat Zabina, a resident of Central Kolkata’s Rippon Street, was waiting in a queue to get her father’s death certificate.

“I am here for my father’s death certificate. I have been waiting since early morning. With all the rumours surrounding NRC, it is better to get all the proper documents,” Zabina said.

One of the KMC officials, Sahab Deb, said that it was becoming a big challenge to handle the increasing number of people inside the office.

“It is routine work but with the kind of crowd we are witnessing these days, it is becoming quite difficult for us to cope up with the work,” Deb said.

However, another official, SS Mukherjee, asserted that the large queues were not unusual and refused to connect them with the ongoing talks surrounding NRC.

“It is routine work, it’s not related to NRC. From January to December, we see such queues,” Mukherjee said. (ANI)

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Madhya Pradesh police has extracted more than 4,000 files from the laptops and mobile phones of the accused arrested in the alleged honey trapping racket that targeted bureaucrats, businessmen and politicians.

The recovered files include audio recordings, video clips and screenshots of chats, with many of them said to be objectionable in nature, a source stated.

According to sources, the material was used to allegedly blackmail the bureaucrats, politicians and businessmen from the state.

In another development in the case, the SIT constituted to investigate the honey trapping scandal has initiated a probe in the complaints of human trafficking.

Acting on the complaint of the father of one of the accused girls, the police have registered an FIR in sections related to human trafficking. The complainant has alleged that her daughter and many others were lured into the gang by the prime accused- Aarti.

“Father of one of the girl’s involved in human trafficking has registered the police complaint under the sections of human trafficking. He has alleged that masterminds of the honey trapping blackmailing ring would lure young girls with false promises and then would force them in flesh trade”, the sources privy with the development said.

A case in this regard has been registered under section 370, 370 (A) and 120 (B) of IPC. According to sources, the girl may also be made a witness in the case.

Meanwhile, speaking about the honey trapping case SIT Chief Sanjeev Sharma told reporters that it is a serious crime and no names will be revealed until the probe is completed.

“It will be too early to take any names at this stage. The investigation is underway,” Sharma told media persons in Indore.

Six persons, including five women and a man, have been arrested in connection with the honey trapping case. The arrested accused includes Monica, Shweta and Aarti.

Monica was on Monday brought to Bhopal by police as part of the evidence gathering and further interrogation.

Speaking to media persons on September 23, police stated that Monica was living in Bhopal with one of the prime accused.

“We have talked to the college administration and the parents Monica to unearth why and how she got into honey trapping. Monica has also informed that she was living with one of the prime accused Aarti in a flat in Bhopal for the last four months”, the police told media persons.

The incident came to light after an Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) engineer had filed a complaint alleging that two women were blackmailing him by threatening to make some objectionable videos viral.

The Civic engineer was later suspended from the service by the IMC. (ANI)

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Pakistan has approached United Nations Security Council (UNSC) with a request to release monthly expenses for 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind and globally designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed. The council has ‘approved’ the letter after no objections were raised to it within the set deadline.

In a notification dated August 15 the UNSC committee pursuant to resolution 1267, 1989, 2253, said, “The Chair has the honor to refer to his draft letter to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan communicating the Committee’s decision with respect to the intention of the Pakistani authorities to authorize certain expenditures to the benefit of Hafiz Muhammad Saeed (ODi.263), Haji Muhammad Ashraf (ODi.265) and Zafar Iqbal (ODi.308) to cover basic expenses, as specified in the note verbale of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan pursuant to paragraph 81 (a) of resolution 2368 (2017).”

“The Chair wishes to inform the members that no objections were placed by the set deadline of 15 August 2019 for the consideration of the draft letter. Consequently, the letter is approved and the Chair will instruct the Secretariat to dispatch it,” the letter added.

Pakistan in a letter to UN Security Council 1267 Committee has contended that Hafiz Saeed supports a family of four members, as a sole supporter, he is responsible for food, drink and clothes expenses for fall family members

“The Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the United Nations presents Its compliments to the Security Council concerning Jarnaat Ud Da’wa and associated Individuals, groups, undertakings and entities, and has the honour to notify the committee, pursuant to paragraph 1(a) of security council resolution 1152(2002) and paragraph 81(a) of resolution 2360(2017), that the government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has received a request from a Pakistani citizen Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, who is listed on the list established and maintained by the committee under permanent reference 001.263,” the letter stated.

“his bank account was blocked by the government of Pakistan under compliance with UNSC resolution1267 requesting an asset freeze exemption to access frozen funds In the amount of Pakistani rupees 011,50,000 to cover the necessary basic living expenses for himself and his family,” it added.

This development comes despite Pakistan claims that it is taking stringent actions against terrorist. In May, Pakistan’s Counter-Terrorism Department had booked Hafiz Saeed and top leaders of JuD under charges of terror financing. The authorities have also arrested Saeed.

However, India, who has always accused Pakistan of supporting and providing safe haven to terrorists, dismissed the recent arrest of Saeed as a mere “drama”. (ANI)

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Making a strong pitch for US industry to come and invest in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said he will act as a bridge to fill any gaps in the path of making India an ideal destination for investors.

Speaking at the Bloomberg Global Business Forum here, Modi highlighted the progress made by India over the last five years and pointed out that Foreign Direct Investment came into the country in big numbers during the time due to the steps taken by his government.

“In the past five years, India has had 286 billion in FDI. This is the half of India’s total FDI inflow in the past 20 years,” the Prime Minister said while speaking at the Bloomberg Global Business Forum.

“Your prudent method and our pragmatic mind can write new stories in management. Your rational ways and our human values can show the path which the world is looking for. And if there is any gap anywhere, I will personally act as a bridge,” PM told the gathering here.

The Prime Minister said that India grabbed the top position in Asia in terms of investment in Bloomberg’s Nation Brand Tracker-2018 survey.

“In seven out of 10 indicators, Currency stability, High-quality products, Anti-corruption, Low cost of production, Strategic location and respect for IPR, India was on top. Even on other indicators, it fared high rankings,” the Prime Minister said.

“Your desires and dreams match perfectly. Your technology and our talent can change the world. Your scale and our skills can speed up global economic growth,” said the Prime Minister.

Reiterating that his government is committed to making India a 5 trillion dollar economy, the Prime Minister said, “India has now set the goal to make the country a 5 trillion dollar economy. To achieve this big target, we have capability, courage as well as the conditions.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met former Mayor of New York City, Michael R Bloomberg ahead of his address at the Bloomberg Global Business Forum on Wednesday.

Bloomberg is one of the founders, CEO, and owner of Bloomberg LP, global financial services, software, and mass media company that bears his name. He served as the 108th Mayor of New York City, holding office for three consecutive terms.

After the Bloomberg summit, Prime Minister Modi will take part in an investment round table which will see the participation of more than 40 major US companies.

(ANI)

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