National
Y.C. Modi takes charge as new NIA Chief
New Delhi, Oct 30 (IANS) Senior IPS officer Y.C. Modi, who was part of a Supreme Court-appointed team that probed the 2002 Gujarat riots cases, on Monday took over as NIA chief, succeeding Sharad Kumar.
In an official statement, the counter terror probe agency said, Yogesh Chander Modi, a 1984 batch IPS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre, took over as Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
He succeeded Sharad Kumar, a 1979 batch IPS officer of Haryana Cadre, who completed his tenure.
Modi will hold the post till his superannuation on May 31, 2021, according to an order from the Department of Personnel and Training.
He was named as NIA head on September 18.
Modi takes over the NIA at a time when it is probing the funding of separatists and stone-pelters in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan-based terrorist groups.
Earlier, Modi had joined the NIA as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) on September 22. Before that he was posted as Special Director with the CBI. Modi was appointed Additional Director of CBI in 2015.
Modi was part of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that probed the Gujarat riots cases in August 2010 and remained part of the team till July 2012.
The SIT had cleared Narendra Modi, who at that time was Gujarat Chief Minister, in the Gulbarg Society massacre case.
According to NIA, Y.C. Modi in his career spanning over 33 years, has extensive experience of investigation, intelligence and operations.
“He worked with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a period of around 10 years in two stints from 2002-2010 and 2015-2017, where he handled special crime and economic offences besides anti-corruption cases.”
Modi was awarded the Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2001 and the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2008.
Sharad Kumar was appointed NIA chief on August 5, 2013. He was given two extensions — the latest on October 23 last year.
“The NIA, under his inspiring and able leadership, made path-breaking progress with its thorough and professional investigation,” the agency said.
The statement said that during Sharad Kumar’s tenure, the NIA achieved significant successes in solving many complex terrorist crimes and unearthing intricate conspiracies, including the Bodh Gaya temple blast, blast at Patna rally of the then prime ministerial candidate of the BJP Narendra Modi, Pathankot airbase attack case, ISIS and the Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case.
The agency said that it expanded its geographical presence to the entire country with the creation of three new branch offices at Kolkata, Raipur and Jammu.
The office and residential complex of the Lucknow branch office was also inaugurated in August 2017.
–IANS
aks/rn
National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.