Report Card of Ministr

PIB Release: Report Card of Ministry of Home Affairs for March 2011

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Home Affairs

01-April-2011

The Union Home Minister, Shri P. Chidambaram presented the Report Card of the Ministry of Home Affairs for March 2011 in New Delhi today.  Following is the text of his statement:

            “I present the report of the Ministry of Home Affairs for the month of March, 2011. 

            All necessary steps have been taken to ensure foolproof security arrangements for the ICC Cricket World Cup-2011.

            A significant development during the month was the Home Secretary Level talks between India and Pakistan on March 28-29, 2011. At the end of the talks, a joint statement was issued on March 29, 2011.

Internal Security         

            An amount of  Rs.10.89 crore was released under SRE scheme to the State of Chhattisgarh as reimbursement of expenditure towards premium for insurance of police personnel engaged in anti naxal operations for the period from 2008-09 to 2010-11.

            A sum of  Rs. 36 lakh was sanctioned as assistance to 12 beneficiaries at the rate of  Rs.3 lakh each under the Central scheme of assistance to the victims terrorist/ communal/ naxalviolence.

Pak national held on IB in Jammu

Jammu Tawi, March 31
Border Security Force troops arrested a Pakistani national on the International Border (IB) in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, BSF Sources said today. The jawans of BSF apprehended him soon after he crossed over to Indian side from the IB in Chalarian village of Samba district last evening, they said. He was identified as Mohammad Buta of Narowal in Pakistan, they said adding he appeared to be mentally deranged and was reported to have crossed the border inadvertently. He is likely to be handed over to the Pakistani Rangers as a goodwill gesture by the BSF, they said. —PTI
http://www.jknewspoint.com/

RJD leader shot dead, another injured

From IBMLive

PTI | 08:04 PM,Apr 01,2011

Betiah, Apr 1 (PTI) A local RJD leader was shot dead and his associate injured by armed motor cycle-borne assailants near Station Chowk in Bihar's West Champaran district today. Superintendent of Police Nishant Tiwari said the two assailants entered RJD leader Alind Rai's house and stayed there for about two hours before shooting him dead and injuring his associate Alok Jha. The assailants fired in the air before making good their escape, he said. Police later recovered six used cartridges from the spot but the motive behind the killing was yet to be known. Raids are on to nab the assailants, one of whom was identified as Fauji Singh - a BSF deserter and native of Muzaffarpur and presently staying in Nepal, Tiwari said. PTI 

Elections come and go. But the immigrant issue goes on forever

From Tehelka

1 APRIL 2011 FRIDAY

A quarter century post the Assam Accord, political parties in the state still seek votes on the issue of illegal Bangladeshi immigration, reports KUNAL MAJUMDER

THE BORDER district of Dhubri, sandwiched between the Brahmaputra and Gangadhar rivers in Assam, has traditionally been a river port. After partition of the subcontinent, this Muslim-majority district turned into a major transit point for illegal trade on the Indo-Bangladesh border. The 44.5-km water border also allows Bangladeshis to cross over in boats on the pretext of trade and quietly merge with the Indian population, first in Assam and then the rest of the country.

Eternal stream Traders come every day from across the porous border, often bypassing the checkpoints. Many have no intention to return Photos: Shailendra Pandey

With Assembly elections from 4 April, the issue of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants is on the top of everybody’s minds. Even the banned separatist group United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) talks of the ‘threat’, though its leaders get sanctuary in Bangladesh. ULFA foreign secretary Sashadhar Choudhury confirmed to TEHELKA that the presence of foreigners in Assam will be part of the peace talks with the Central government.

PIB Release: Country’s Population Reaches 1210 Million as Per Census 2011

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Home Affairs

31-March-2011

Country’s Population Reaches 1210 Million as Per Census 2011
Up Remains Most Populous State With 199 Million
Overall Sex Ratio Reaches 940 – 7 Points Increases Over 2001
Literacy Rate Goes up to 74.04 Percent from 64.83 Percent

The population of the country as per the provisional figures of Census 2011 is 1210.19 million of which 63.72 million (51.54%) are males and 586.46 million (48.46%) are females. The provisional figures of Census 2011 were released in New Delhi today by Union Home Secretary Shri G.K.Pillai and RGI Shri C. Chandramouli.

The major highlights of the Census 2011 (Provisional figures) are as under ;-

• The population of India has increased by more than 181 million during the decade 2001-2011.

• Percentage growth in 2001-2011 is 17.64; males 17.19 and females 18.12.

• 2001-2011 is the first decade (with the exception of 1911-1921) which has actually added lesser population compared to the previous decade.

• Uttar Pradesh (199.5 million) is the most populous State in the country  followed by Maharashtra with 112 million.

• The percentage decadal growth rates of the six most populous States have declined during 2001-2011 compared to 1991-2001:

-                      Uttar Pradesh (25.85% to 20.09%)

-                      Maharashtra (22.73% to 15.99%)

-                      Bihar (28.62% to 25.07%)

-                      West Bengal (17.77 % to 13.93%)

-                      Andhra Pradesh (14.59% to 11.10%)

-                      Madhya Pradesh (24.26% to 20.30%)

BSF to stand guard with non-lethal arms

From The Times Of India
SILIGURI: BSF will prefer non-lethal arms over their lethal weapons while resisting trans-border movements along the Indo-Bangladesh border to curb casualties. The Special Director General of BSF (East), Pranay Sahay said at the North Bengal frontier headquarters at Kadamtala.

"Our target is to minimise killing and therefore, we have decided to use non-lethal arms to the extent possible to stop intruders. We have had a discussion on the issue with our Bangladeshi counterparts, who have also assured us of taking similar steps," Sahay said.

BSF is planning to equip their armed guards deployed at the border with Pump Action Bore Guns. "Shots fired from this gun do not cause death. TheCRPF used it in Jammu and Kashmir to curb protests and the result has been extraordinary", the Special DG said. "Casualties on the border while guarding it has decreased to a considerable level. We want to minimise it further," Sahay added.

According to reports available with the BSF, only three deaths have resulted from BSF jawans' shots this year as against the 52 deaths reported in 2010. The figure was 75 in 2009 as against 80 in 2008.

"As death toll has come down a lot, our relationship with the border people has improved remarkably. This can be substantiated with the fact that seizure of cattle heads in 2011 is far better than the previous years," he asserted.

"However, we are working to improve relation with locals further. Monthly meetings are being held regularly and our men have increasing interacting with those living in the border areas," he added.

The Eastern Command, ,also known as the Eastern Theatre, plans to build 383 more outposts by 2014. 
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/BSF-to-stand-guard-with-non-lethal-arms/articleshow/7830229.cms

India's BSF soldiers patrol along the border with Pakistan in Banaskanth district

From The Statesman

March 2011

India's BSF soldiers patrol along the border with Pakistan in Banaskanth district

India's BSF soldiers patrol along the border with Pakistan in Banaskanth district

Pak national held on IB in Jammu

From IBN Live

PTI | 05:03 PM,Mar 31,2011

Jammu, Mar 31 (PTI) Border Security Force troops arrested a Pakistani national on the International Border (IB) in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, BSF Sources said today. The jawans of BSF apprehended him soon after he crossed over to Indian side from the IB in Chalarian village of Samba district last evening, they said. He was identified as Mohammad Buta of Narowal in Pakistan, they said adding he appeared to be mentally deranged and was reported to have crossed the border inadvertently. He is likely to be handed over to the Pakistani Rangers as a goodwill gesture by the BSF, they said.

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/pak-national-held-on-ib-in-jammu/631539.html

Bengal border to be sealed ahead of polls

From IBN Live

March 31,2011

Kolkata: The border with the neighbouring countries in West Bengal will be sealed three days ahead of the assembly polls to ensure free and fair elections in the state.

"Border guards have been asked to seal the entire stretch between the state and its neighbouring countries three days ahead of the six-phase poll in the districts concerned," Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh said in Kolkata on Tuesday.

"The state administration on Tuesday held a high-level meeting with senior officials of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) after similar such meetings with the BSF and the Coast Guard yesterday to intensify vigil along the borders with Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan," Ghosh said.

The Election Commission held a high-level meeting last week in New Delhi with the state officials on strengthening vigil along inter-state borders and seal it a couple of days before polling to prevent entry of illegal arms and unaccounted money.

"We have to ensure better law and order in the state with continuous surveillance and faster execution of non-bailable warrants, besides seizure of illegal arms," Ghosh said.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bengal-border-to-be-sealed-ahead-of-polls/147545-37-64.html

In border posts, jawans will be glued to TVs, their prized possession

From TOI
March 30, 2011
JAIPUR: The TV sets at the security posts near theIndo-Pak border in Rajasthan will be tuned into sports channels on Wednesday as the BSF jawans are desperately waiting for the match between the two countries to be held at Mohali.

The TV sets, which were recently put up at almost all border posts following demand for the same by adamant jawans, have become a prized possession for them.

"We are desperately waiting for the match to begin. We are sure that Men in Blue will emerge winners just like us whenever there had been times of crisis and tension between the two countries," saidSukumar Nayak, a havildar deputed at Veer Dil border outpost in Jaisalmer district.

BSF on a heightened vigil

From The Times Of India

30 Mar, 2011 0354hrs IST TNN

JAISALMER: The Border Security Force is on a high alert ahead of the cricket match between the two countries in Mohali on Wednesday. It has announced Operation Alert' to keep an unprecedented vigil along the border here.

"We are on a high alert and geared up to prevent any infiltration," BSF DIG (Jaisalmer sector north) B R Meghwal told TOI.

"Special surveillance and patrolling with latest gadgets will be conducted along the border in Barmer, Jaisalmer and Sriganganagar districts. The officials have been asked to chalk out specific security plans for Wednesday," said Meghwal.

About 460 Pak nationals who travelled to India in the Thar Express last Saturday are also under the watch of the security forces. Sources said the number of Pak passengers was largest in the last two years.

"We had conducted a through check of their luggage before the passengers left for Jodhpur. Intelligence agencies are keeping a watch on their movements," said a senior BSF officer.

The local police have also launched a crackdown on known smugglers of state's border districts after getting instructions regarding this from the Union home ministry.

SP, Barmer, Santosh Chalke said all the police stations in the border area have been asked to keep a watch on repeat offenders of smuggling.

The police have planned to round up suspects from the villages along the border.

"Teams have been constituted to carry out raids at suspicious places," Chalke said.

http://m.timesofindia.com/PDATOI/articleshow/7821551.cms