MHA allows employers of stranded Indians in gulf to send them back on chartered flights
New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday issued an order allowing employers and hiring companies abroad to send their Indian employees back to India on chartered flights. The letter stated that the order was in reference with Ministry of External Affairs’ UO Note No. 138 dated 15-05-2020 and D.O letter dated 18-05-2020 regarding repatriation of stranded Indian labourers from abroad particularly in Gulf region.
Saudi Arabia based leading company, Expertise Contracting Co. which mainly has workforce that belongs to Karnataka had sought permission from PM Narendra Modi to land chartered flights at Bengaluru/Mangaluru International Airports. The company said it will carry Indian expatriates working for the company who are stranded in Saudi Arabia on chartered flights. It added that at least 500 of its workmen are stranded in the Kingdom due to the lockdown and suspension of flights between the two countries amidst growing number of cases of coronavirus.
In a letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Joint Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, the company had added that the it is looking forward to send 500 of its employees back to the country adding that at least 250 of them need to visit India on emergencies on various grounds viz., to get medical assistance for protracted illness like diabetes, hypertension etc.; to attend to ailing parents/ family members on emergency; to attend to pressing legal matters etc.
The letter issued from the ministry has asked the employers to undertake all the precautionary measures in accordance with Standard Operating Protocol (SOP).
It further added that the cost of travel will be borne by travelers or their employers and the travelers shall give an undertaking before boarding that they would undergo mandatory institutional quarantine for a minimum period of 14 days on arrival in India at their own cost or at the cost of the employer.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
NIA registers case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal
New Delhi (PTI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday registered a case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal, officials said.
The move came following a directive by the Union Home Ministry in this regard, they said.
In pursuance to the home ministry's order, the anti-terror agency on Sunday registered a case, which was originally filed at Uttar Kashi police station, Bhangar division, Kolkata on Saturday, and took up the investigation, an NIA spokesperson said in a late night statement.
"The case pertains to recovery of 79 crude bombs and other incriminating materials by Kolkata police, which were being stored at a spot, thereby endangering human life and property," the spokesperson said.
Earlier in the day, the Election Commission had directed the West Bengal Police to launch a special drive to arrest those involved in illegal manufacturing of crude bombs in the poll-bound state, an official said.
It asserted that all cases related to the making of any such explosive would be probed by the National Investigation Agency, the official said.
The directive came after the police recovered a large number of crude bombs from the house of a person, allegedly a TMC worker, at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district, days ahead of the second and final phase of the assembly polls in the state.
The explosives were recovered during a search at the residence of Rafikul Islam following specific inputs, the official said.
The poll panel also issued a warning to senior police officers across the state over any lapse in maintaining law and order before the April 29 polling.
The first phase of the assembly elections in West Bengal was held on April 23, while the second phase will take place on April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.
A record 93.19 per cent turnout has been recorded in the first round of polling. Bhangar will vote in the second phase.
