Tag: OCI

  • OCI of separatists to be cancelled

    OCI of separatists to be cancelled

    Govt orders agencies to identify separatists’ well-wishers, accomplices and freeze their bank accounts and seize their properties…reports Asian Lite News

    Continuing its crackdown on terrorists and Khalistani extremists, the Indian government in a bold move has now asked the investigative agencies to identify the properties of all the terrorists wanted in India sitting abroad for confiscation and cancel their Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) so that they don’t come to India.

    The government has also asked the agencies to identify their well-wishers and accomplices and freeze their bank accounts and seize their properties. The government aims to choke terror funding aiming to create unrest and lure the youth.

    The move comes a day after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) confiscated the properties of Canada-based ‘designated individual terrorist’ Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in Amritsar and Chandigarh.

    Sources privy to the matter said that the government has asked the security agencies to identify the properties of the terrorists settled in countries like US, UK, Canada and Australia for their confiscation and cancel their OCI so that they don’t come to India. The source said that the step will help the government to choke the finances of these terrorists from India and also not allow them to visit here. Their properties will be confiscated under section 33(5) of UA(P)A. the government’s action is aimed to put a stop on them who target the gullible youths and radicalise them to join their movement in India.

    According to sources, the government has identified 19 absconding Khalistani terrorists staying in countries like US, UK, Canada, UAE, Pakistan and other countries.

    Paramjit Singh Pamma, based in UK, Wadhwa Singh Babbar aka Chacha in Pakistan, Kulwant Singh Muthda, UK, JS Dhaliwal, US, Sukhpak Singh, UK, Harriet Singh aka Rana Sungh, US, Sarabjit Singh Benoor, UK, Kulwant Singh aka Kanta, UK, Harjap Singh aka Jappi Dingh, US, Ranjit Singh Neeta, Pakistan, Gurmeet Singh aka Bagga, Gurpreet Singh aka Baaghi, UK, Jasmin Singh Hakimzada, UAE, Gurjant Singh Dhillon, Australia, Lakhbir Singh Rode, Europe and Canada, Amardeep Singh Purewal, US, Jatinder Singh Grewal, Canada, Dupinder Jeet, UK and S Himmat Singh in US.

    The source said that earlier the security agencies identified a group of 11 individuals, believed to be both gangsters and terrorists, currently residing in Canada, the United States, and Pakistan. Of these, eight suspects are suspected to be operating from within Canada.

    The list includes the names of gangsters and terrorists like — Harvinder Sandhu aka Rinda believed to be in Pakistan, Lakhbir Singh aka Landa, Sukhdool Singh aka Sukha Duneke (killed three days ago), Arshdeep Singh aka Arsh Dalla, Ramandeep Singh aka Raman Judge, Charnjit Singh aka Rinku Bihla, Sanawer Dhillon and Gurpinder Singh aka Baba Dalla, all believed to be in Canada.

    The list also includes names of gangsters and terrorists like Gaurav Patyal Lucky and Anmol Bishnoi believed to be in US.

    Meanwhile NIA has announced cash rewards for information on five Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorists including its Canada based leader Lakhbir Singh Landa and Pakistan based Harwinder Singh Rinda.

    While the federal agency announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh each for information on Landa and Rinda, who are key leaders in the Khalistan machinery, Rs 5 lakh each was declared on Parminder Singh Kaira alias Pattu, Satnam Singh alias Satbir Singh and Yadvinder Singh alias Yadda, according to a statement issued by the NIA.

    Canadian Defence Minister urges common ground

    Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair has urged India, Canada to start talking to find a common ground in view of the recent strain in relations, CBC News reported.

    “I really want [the two countries I love] to start talking. I know once they start talking, once they really want to help their citizens, I’m pretty sure they’ll find common ground to make friends,” Blair said in an interview on Rosemary Barton Liveon CBC News which aired on Sunday.

    CBC News is a division of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the news gathering and production of news programs.

    Blair said he is aware of the impact the diplomatic dispute was having on Indian-Canadians.

    This comes as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last week alleged India’s involvement in  the fatal shooting of Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.

    Najjar, who was a designated Terrorist in India, was gunned down outside a Gurdwara, in a parking area in Canada’s Surrey, British Columbia on June 18.

    Canada has called on India to co-operate with the investigation into Nijjar’s death.

    Trudeau on Friday said that Ottawa wants to “work constructively with India” regarding the alleged involvement of New Delhi in the killing of Nijjar, designated as a terrorist by India.

    The Canadian Defence Minister said: “It’s another reason why I place such emphasis on the investigation that’s taking place, that we’d be able to move beyond credible intelligence to evidence, strong evidence of exactly what happened, so that we and the Indian government can know the truth, have the facts and then work together to resolve it in an appropriate way.”

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  • Govt simplifies renewal of OCI cards

    Govt simplifies renewal of OCI cards

    OCI card is very essential for foreigners of Indian origin and as per rules OCI cards to be reissued for new passports. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday said that the government has decided to dispense with the requirement of issuance of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards if a person has obtained registration as OCI cardholder after attaining the age of 20 years.

    While giving details about the way which will ease out re-issuance of OCI card, the Home Ministry said, “A person who has got registration as OCI cardholder prior to attaining the age of 20 years will have to get the OCI card re-issued only once when a new passport is issued after his or her completing 20 years of age, so as to capture his or her facial features on attaining adulthood. If a person has obtained registration as OCI cardholder after attaining the age of 20 years, there will be no requirement of re-issuance of OCI card.”

    Presently, the OCI card is required to be re-issued each time a new passport is issued to persons up to 20 years of age and also after they complete 50 years of age, in view of biological changes in the face of the applicant. With a view to facilitating the OCI cardholders, it has now been decided by the Centre to dispense with this requirement.
    The ministry said that the OCI card has proved to be very popular amongst foreigners of Indian Origin and spouses of foreign origin of Indian citizens or OCI cardholders, as it helps them in hassle-free entry and unlimited stay in India. So far about 37.72 lakh OCI Cards have been issued by the Government of India.

    Delhi Airport

    “With a view to updating the data regarding new passports obtained by the OCI cardholder, it has been decided that he or she shall upload a copy of the new passport containing his or her photo and also the latest photo on the online OCI portal, each time a new passport is issued up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age. These documents may be uploaded by the OCI cardholder within 3 months of receipt of the new passport,” the ministry said.

    “As per the extant law, a foreigner of Indian origin or a foreign spouse of an Indian citizen or foreign spouse of an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder, can be registered as an OCI cardholder. OCI card is a life-long visa for entry and stay in India with a number of other major benefits attached to it which are not available to other foreigners,” MHA added.

    “However, in the case of those who have been registered as OCI cardholder as the spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or an OCI cardholder, the person concerned will be required to upload on the system, a copy of the new passport containing the photo of the passport holder and also the latest photo along with a declaration that their marriage is still subsisting each time a new passport is issued. These documents may be uploaded by the OCI cardholder spouse within three months of receipt of his or her new passport,” it said.

    The Home Ministry said that the details will be updated on the system and an auto acknowledgement through e-mail will be sent to the OCI cardholder informing that the updated details have been taken on record. “There will be no restriction on the OCI cardholder to travel to or from India during the period from the date of issue of new passport till the date of final acknowledgement of his or her documents in the web-based system. All the above services of uploading documents will be provided on a gratis basis to the OCI cardholders,” the MHA said. (ANI)

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