The Tribune – Ludhiana man joins Melbourne Police

Puneet Pal Singh Gill, Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 5. A turbaned Sikh man from Ludhiana, Manpinder Singh Gill, will be fighting crime on the streets of Australia. Thirty-four-year-old Manpinder has been appointed Protective Services Officer in the Protective Services Unit (PSU) of the Melbourne Police. Another city resident Amitoj Singh is already serving the Australian police.

Gill, whose family lives in Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar area here, is the fifth turbaned youth and second from Ludhiana to be inducted into the Australian police.

The PSU is Victoria Police’s specialist provider of security services. It was established in 1986 following a security review, but formally commenced operations on May 1, 1988.

Manpinder went to the local GGN Public School and SCD Government College. He later graduated from Gujranwala Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology. He, along with his wife Pawan, migrated to Australia in 2007. He had been doing a business before he applied for PSO.

“My maternal grandfather was in the Army. I also aspired to be an army officer, but could not succeed. And when I saw this advertisement, I thought this was my chance to fulfill my childhood dream. As a PSO I will be able to serve the community,” Manpinder said while speaking to The Tribune over the phone from Melbourne. “After clearing the written test, I joined the Victoria Police Academy, Glen Waverley, Victoria on April 16. After three months of rigorous training, I graduated on July 16,” Manpinder said.

His father Sant Parkash Singh Gill, a former Superintending Engineer of the Punjab Irrigation Department, flew to Australia to attend his son’s graduation ceremony. Manpinder said: “Australians do not discriminate. Here you are treated on a par with other citizens. It does not make any difference to people here that I wear a turban as they know that I am there for their safety”.

The PSO’s are responsible for the security of Melbourne’s Supreme Court, County Court, Children’s Court, Magistrates’ Court, Suburban Magistrates Courts, Victoria Civil and Administrative Tribunal, Department of Premier and Cabinet, Victorian Department of Justice, Parliament House Victoria, The Shrine of Remembrance, Victoria Police Centre and Victoria Police St Kilda Road Complex.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120806/punjab.htm#15

The Tribune – Another fraud marriage comes to light in Moga

Moga, July 2. In yet another case, a young woman has become a victim of fraudulent marriage by a non-resident Indian (NRI) living in Canada.

Earlier, the special police cell, created to prevent frauds and crimes by the NRIs, registered a criminal case three days ago against an Australian resident groom and his parents on the complaint of a local nurse for cheating her by fraudulent marriage on the pretext of taking her abroad.

In the new case, Harwinder Singh Gill, resident of a village in Moga district, has lodged a complaint with SSP Surjit Singh Grewal that she became a victim of fraudulent marriage.

She alleged that her parents paid a sum of Rs 25-lakh to the groom and his family through an agent and an ASI of the state police who acted as a mediator in 2010 to solemnise their marriage. But two years after the marriage, the groom and his family did not take his daughter to Canada. Interestingly, both the agent and mediator ASI had taken their share. The SSP has marked an inquiry to the Human Trafficking Wing of the local police in this regard. (TNS)

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120703/punjab.htm#16

The Tribune – Three countries come together to check immigration fraud

Prabhjot Singh, Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 26. To fight “fraudulent immigration”, Canada, the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia today cautioned prospective visitors and immigrants against falling a prey to unscrupulous immigration agents.

“All three governments are united in combating immigration fraud,” Sidney Frank, Minister, Immigration, Canadian High Commission, announced here today. He was accompanied by Thomas Greig, Regional Director, K Border Agency, and Jose Alvarez, Minister-Counsellor, Immigration, Australian High Commission, New Delhi. Also present was Canadian Consul-General of Canada in Chandigarh Scot Slessor.

Maintaining that they had been involved in a number of efforts to crack down on unscrupulous immigration agents, the visiting officials said the purpose was not to reveal names or number of attempted frauds, but to create awareness among prospective immigrants.

“They need not go to agents as websites of our countries provide the necessary information they need to file their applications for visas. “Ultimately, it is the unsuspecting applicants who suffer besides facing criminal action and ban on immigration up to 10 years.” They said that unscrupulous agents travelled to villages promising fast-track approval for visas abroad. “What they promise is too good to be true and as such prospective applicants should avoid being duped.”

They said that prospective applicants should not believe that “forged” documents were acceptable and that the decision of the visa officer could be influenced with money or other pressures.

“Many people are being cheated with job offers overseas that do not exist. Stop and think before your hand over your money, passport and personal details. If the job offers sounds too good to be true, it could be a scam.

“Crooked immigration agents often advise applicants to provide fake documentation or enter into marriages of convenience,” said Sidney Frank. “Don’t be fooled.Your investment will be lost, you will be caught and will be denied entry to Canada.”

“We welcome genuine visitors, students and workers. We will not tolerate abuse of our immigration systems and have a zero tolerance to fraud,” said Thomas Greig. “I strongly advise anyone who wants a visa for the UK not to listen to agents who offer to sell forged documents and say that they can guarantee a visa. We have very effective processes for detecting fraud and work with our international partners and Indian authorities to do so.

“On uncovering a fraud, including false education and language certificates, the visa is refused and the applicant faces a 10-year ban on travelling to the UK as well as possible action by the Indian authorities,” Greig said.

“Fraud is a criminal offence in Australia and can lead to severe penalties for those involved. But ultimately the responsibility for a visa application lies with the applicant,” said Jose Alvarez.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120627/punjab.htm#3

BBC News – US to ease some Burma sanctions to encourage reforms

Tuesday 17 April 2012. The United States is to relax some financial sanctions against Burma.

It will now allow financial transactions in support of certain humanitarian and non-profit activities.

The US treasury department made the announcement on Tuesday, as part of attempts to reward democratic reforms that are under way in the country.

Financial restrictions on sporting ties and “non-commercial development projects directly benefiting the Burmese people” will also be lifted.

It is the latest stage in a gradual easing of international pressure on Burma.

The process of reform began with the election of a military-backed but nominally civilian government in November 2010 that ended decades of military rule.

That was followed by 1 April by-elections which returned a number of opposition politicians to the country’s parliament.

Earlier this month US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who visited Burma in December last year, said some travel and financial restrictions would be relaxed, with Burmese leaders allowed to visit the US.

Under the moves, the US will name an ambassador to Burma and establish an office for its US Agency for International Development (USAID) in the country.

Reformers ‘strengthened’

On Monday Australia announced it would ease travel and financial restrictions on about 260 Burmese nationals, including President Thein Sein.

Australia’s announcement came after the British Prime Minister David Cameron said in Burma on Friday that the UK was considering suspending sanctions.

Mr Cameron said economic sanctions against Burma should be suspended in recognition of the changes taking place there, after meeting both the president and pro-democracy leader Aung Sung Suu Kyi.

Ms Suu Kyi, whose National League for Democracy (NLD) party won 43 seats in this month’s by-elections, welcomed his call and said the suspension of sanctions would “strengthen the hand of the reformers”.

Mr Cameron was the first UK prime minister to visit Burma since it gained independence in 1948.

Later this month the European Union will discuss easing some of the sanctions it has in place against the Burmese government – although there is no suggestion at this point that restrictions on arms sales will be lifted.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17749400

The Asian Age – Indian cabbie attacked in Australia

Melbourne, 2 December 2011. A 22-year-old Indian taxi driver in Australia was attacked by four men who ripped off his turban and repeatedly punched him during the assault.

The men attacked Ravisher Singh yesterday in the city’s southeastern suburb after an argument with him. Three men have been arrested on the charges of assault, according to ‘The Age’ newspaper.

Singh said he had picked up the group from the Mentone Hotel and was driving them to the Chelsea Heights Hotel.

An argument started with the men when they arrived at a pub on the corner of Springvale and Wells roads and Singh got out of his taxi. The men ripped off his turban from his head and repeatedly punched him, the report quoted Singh as saying.

He said the men knocked him to the ground and left his face bloodied and bruised before fleeing. “Indians have had this for five or six years and it will happen again unless something is done to stop it,” Singh was quoted as saying by the report.

“We are just working hard trying to make a living. We don’t deserve this,” he added. Victoria police were currently investigating the case, the spokesperson said. (PTI)

http://www.asianage.com/india/indian-cabbie-attacked-australia-695