No role in plans to give food kits, aid to families of Hubballi violence accused: Zameer Ahmed Khan
Bengaluru, Apr 29: Amid reports that he had plans to distribute food kits and financial aid to the families of those accused in the Hubballi violence, Karnataka Congress leader and MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan on Friday clarified that he is in Mecca on a pilgrimage, and has nothing to do with it.
The clarification came even as he received flak from several BJP leaders and the Hubballi-Dharwad unit of the party, even writing to the Police Commissioner not to permit such an activity.
"I have come to Mecca on a pilgrimage since April 17th. The recent allegations on me are completely baseless & false. I have no role in any activities mentioned in the allegations on me," Khan tweeted.
Stating that he has seen reports of Zameer supporting the accused in the violence, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said the Congress leader in his capacity as an MLA should have condemned them, but he is supporting and trying to "become their hero".
"This will send a wrong message to the society that indulging in such activities will fetch rewards. It is dangerous for maintenance of peace and order. The whole society will have to condemn anti-social and communal elements who try to disturb peace...Congress will have to think about it," he said.
However, jumping into the MLA's defence, Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah said Khan has gone on 'Umrah'.
Umrah is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest city for Muslims, in Saudi Arabia that can be undertaken at any time of the year.
"If someone distributes food kits, how can you say Zameer is doing it, Zameer is on Umrah...," the former chief minister said.
I have come to Mecca on a pilgrimage since April 17th. The recent allegations on me are completely baseless & false.
— B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan (@BZZameerAhmedK) April 29, 2022
I have no role in any activities mentioned in the allegations on me.
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Govt to set up Bureau of Port Security to boost port, vessel security
New Delhi (PTI): To beef up the security infrastructure of ports, the government will set up a statutory body -- the Bureau of Port Security -- that will ensure timely analysis, collection and exchange of security-related information of ports and vessels, officials said on Friday.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday convened a meeting for the constitution of the dedicated body, the Bureau of Port Security (BoPS), which was attended by the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, and the Minister of Civil Aviation, Ram Mohan Naidu, an official statement said.
Emphasising that there is a need to establish a country-wide robust port security framework, Shah directed that security measures should be implemented in a graded and risk-based manner, taking into account vulnerabilities, trade potential, location, and other relevant parameters.
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The meeting also noted that lessons learned from the maritime security framework shall be replicated in the aviation security domain, the statement said.
The new body, modelled on the lines of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), will be constituted as a statutory body under the new Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, and will work under the aegis of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), it said.
Headed by a senior IPS officer as its director general, the BoPS will be responsible for regulatory and oversight functions relating to the security of ships and port facilities.
"During the transition period of one year, the director general of shipping shall function as the director general of BoPS," the statement said.
"The BoPS will ensure timely analysis, collection and exchange of security-related information, with a special focus on cybersecurity, including a dedicated division to safeguard port IT infrastructure from digital threats," it said.
The government has designated the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) as a recognised security organisation (RSO), responsible for undertaking security assessments and preparation of security plans for port facilities.
The Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) will train and build the capacities of private security agencies (PSAs) engaged in port security.
"These agencies shall be certified and appropriate regulatory measures shall be introduced to ensure that only the licensed PSAs operate in this sector," the statement said.
