Delhi police Cyber Cell arrest six men for running an online ‘sextortion’ racket

January 8, 2021

A gang of youths who have been identified as Waris, Rayees, Annay Khan, Wahid, Mufeed and Akram who are residents of Bharatpur Rajasthan have been arrested the Cyber Cell of Delhi police after it unearthed a cybercrime racket were the culprits were allegedly extorting money from people on Facebook by blackmailing them.

According to Times of India (TOI), Delhi police Cyber Cell has arrested six men from Bharatpur Rajasthan who were allegedly running an online extortion racket and the police managed to recover ₹25 lakhs from 10 bank accounts and 40 victims have been identified.

The extortionists had a very simple modus Operandi wherein they would create fake profiles on Facebook and send friend requests to unsuspecting people who are mostly men over 50.

Once a relationship has been established, they would initiate a video call and then they would proceed to show them obscene videos over video calls and as they watched, the culprits would record them watching the video.

Now having leverage over the victims, they would pose as senior officials of social media platforms and would demand money for deleting the video.

According to DCP (Cyber Cell), Anyesh Roy, the Cyber Crime Unit received several complaints and upon investigating the online extortion racket, the police discovered that the culprits were blackmailing people by threatening to upload video were they are seen watching them.

DCP Roy said, “An inquiry revealed that the victims were contacted over social media platforms like Facebook. The victims were engaged in a brief chat and then asked to make a video call over Messenger or WhatsApp. The victims were shown adult clips and the video call was simultaneously recorded. After some time, they got extortion calls demanding ₹2,000-3,000”.

To maintain their anonymity, the extortionists used SIM cards and bank accounts obtained through fake IDs. They were very careful and would change the SIM cards, issued from different parts of the country, usually after a day or two.

India will become a trillion-dollar digital economy in 2021: NASSCOM Report

The Commune

January 8, 2021

GCCs Projected To Create Up To 28 Lakh Jobs In India By 2030

National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) which is an Indian non-governmental trade association and advocacy group has published a report with Zinnov that has highlighted that India in 2020 saw the addition of 1,600 new start-ups in the tech start-up ecosystem.

At the same time, a record 12 of the existing ones emerged as the new entrants into the coveted unicorn club, reports Business Standard.

The report titled “Indian Tech Start-up Ecosystem – On the March to Trillion Dollar Digital Economy” has noted that the nation’s technology start-up base is witnessing a steady growth at a rate of 8%-10% year-on-year.

Another important information published in this report is that as many as 2,100 start-ups leveraged deep-tech in 2020, which is up from 1,600 figure from 2019.

The NASSCOM report further states that India’s potential unicorn pipeline stays strong with 1.5x growth since 2019.

The report ends with a positive note that 2021 promises to be a very good year for Indian start-ups which not only managed to stay afloat amidst uncertainties after the pandemic outbreak but also strategically strengthened their playbook by converting the crisis into opportunity and India march towards becoming a trillion-dollar digital economy.

AltNews “fact-checker” gets facts wrong: Man who waved Indian Tricolour at US Capitol siege turns out to be Modi-critic and a ‘Tharoor-admirer’

The Commune

January 8, 2021

Now that photos and videos of January 6’s storming of the US Capitol are doing the rounds on social media, several Indians were astounded to notice that among the many flags and banners being waved by pro-Trump protestors was also the Indian tricolour.

Some users on Twitter though were particularly quick to insinuate the political and ideological leanings of the individual carrying the Indian flag, without knowing anything about their identity.

https://www.twitter.com/ashoswai/status/1347138236196519942

While one Twitter user alleged “strong links” between the “Indian diaspora & the far-right groups” — which, apparently “bring[s] a bad name to the Indian diaspora community and also harm[s] India’s interest — another user claiming to be a “Fact-checker” in his Twitter bio slammed the tricolour-waving individual as a “Bhakt”.

Bhakts with @realDonaldTrump
🇺🇲🤝🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/JJMTrxsPmR
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) January 7, 2021

Yes only NRI "Bhakts" can defame 1.2 Million Indians by holding Indian Tricolour and be a part of the Right wirng crowd attacking #CapitolBuilding #CapitolHill 🥰 https://t.co/DwKhwWZYG0
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) January 7, 2021

Unfortunately, the “Fact-Checker” got his facts wrong.

A Republican

The person waving the Indian national flag while Trump supporters besieged the US Capitol is Vincent Xavier, a Trump supporter from Fairfax County, Virginia.

Vincent Xavier is a person of Indian Origin who identifies himself as a social and fiscal conservative. He is also Executive Director at the Indo-American Center according to his social media profile. His Twitter and Facebook timelines announce his avid support for President Trump. He is also the Vice Chair, Community Outreach for the Fairfax County Republican Committee.

A Modi critic

Vincent Xavier is also critic of the Modi-led BJP government, as is evident from his social media. In one instance, he goes as far as calling PM Modi a “snake”. He definitely cannot be called a “Bhakt” by any measure .

While Congress MP Shashi Tharoor denounced the pro-Trump protests, Vincent Xavier replied that he is an American patriot, who — with other American patriots of different national and racial origins — joined a rally in solidarity with Trump due to the allegations of voter fraud in the 20202 US Presidential elections.

Interestingly, he appears to be an admirer of the same Congress leader who denounced him and his fellow Trump supporters. In April of 2015, as mentioned in a Facebook post where he gushes about the Congress MP’s eloquence, Vincent Xavier had lunch with Shashi Tharoor at Washington DC and was a member of the audience at a talk given by Tharoor at Brookings Institution, Washington DC. Vincent also says in his post that he invited the Congress leader to an event organised by the Federation of Malayalee Associations of Americas (FOMAA) at Trivandrum, Kerala.

France has never allowed China to play any “procedural games” at the UNSC on Kashmir says Macron’s Advisor

The Commune

January 8, 2021

Senior advisor to French President Emmanuel Macron, Emmanuel Bonne has said that France has been been supportive of India on Kashmir and has not allowed China to play any “procedural games” at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), reports Times of India.

Bonne who is visiting India for the annual strategic dialogue between the two nations said, “When China breaks the rules, we have to be very robust and very clear and this is the sense of our naval presence in the Indian Ocean.”

Speaking at the “France and India Partners for a Stable and Prosperous Indo-Pacific”, organised by the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF), Bonne also said France may hold some naval exercises with the QUAD — the grouping of US, Japan, Australia and India them in future pointing out that the French Navy is the only European Navy which patrols the Taiwan strait.

However, he made it very clear that the patrols was not a provocation but a way to assert the necessity to abide by international law.

Speaking at the VIF, Emmanuel Bonne, the diplomatic advisor to French President Emmanuel Macron, said, “When China breaks the rules, we have to be very robust and very clear and this is the sense of our naval presence in the Indian Ocean.”

“In particular we are sharing information, we are manoeuvring together our navies, our air and space commandments are coordinating. We are building capacities and cooperating. When it comes to the Indian Ocean, we are working on maritime surveillance,” he said.

Bonne will also call on other Indian dignitaries during his visit also said, “Let us not go for confrontation and I understand that it’s much easier to say this from Paris than from Delhi when you have Pakistan at your border,”.

On direct threats to India, we have always been very clear. Whether it be on Kashmir, we have been very supportive of India in the Security Council, we have not let the Chinese play any kind of procedural games. When it comes to the Himalayas, just check our statements, we are perfectly clear. What we say publicly, we say to the Chinese also privately, there is no ambiguity,” he said.

Bonne also shared about the his conversation with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval at the Strategic Dialogue and said both of them discussied about strategic opportunities as well as the bilateral defence and security relationship and more military cooperation and the Indian Ocean Region.

“In particular we are sharing information, we are maneuvering together our navies, our air and space commandments are coordinating. We are building capacities and cooperating. When it comes to the Indian Ocean, we are working on maritime surveillance,” he said.

Brother of DMK man orchestrates attack to get police protection, gets caught

The Commune

January 8, 2021

Brother of a DMK functionary near Tiruvallur has been caught red-handed for setting up men and damaging his car for want of police protection.

Kannan, is the brother of Karunakaran, a DMK union secretary of Cholavaram South who hails from Paadiyanallur near Senkundram in Thiruvallur district.

He, as part of his real estate business had gone to Thirunilai village in his car on December 27. As he was travelling along the Periyapalayam-Chennai highway, four men who came in two motorbikes suddenly blocked the way and started attacking the car.

The car’s windshields were broken. Kannan and his driver Mani fled the spot and were chased by these men for about half a kilometre.

Kannan later had filed a complained at the Periyapalayam police station following which a team was formed led by Inspector Maheshwari on the orders of Deputy Superintendent of Police Saradhi.

Police, who identified the culprits with the help of surveillance cameras in the area, caught the culprits and interrogated Raja, a lawyer from Chennai based on the information they provided. During the interrogation, it was revealed that the attack was a pre-planned as Kannan wanted to get a police protection and flaunt it for which he had approached Raja. Raja had apparently told Kannan that he would get protection if he goes to police with evidence of threat to his life.

Based on this input, an attack on Kannan’s car was orchestrated.

Following the revelation, Raja along with Leo Vivek, Ayanavaram Balaji, ICF Yuvaraj, Kolathur Hariharan, Kolathur Sakthivel were taken into police custody.

Shocking: Amman temple in Pudukottai bombed by unidentified miscreants

The Commune

January 8, 2021

In a shocking incident, the Adhiparashakti temple in the Pullanviduthi village of Pudukkottai district was exploded reportedly using explosives by unidentified miscreants.

The temple frequented by the people of the village and the surrounding area, has been left in ruins.

Preparations were underway at the temple on January 5, where a pavilion for special worship had been set up. More than 200 people were expected to attend the service.

On the morning of January 5, mysterious persons had detonated explosives inside the locked temple, as per a report by The Hindu Tamil. Devotees who had gone to the temple on Tuesday (January 5) found the temple in shambles and immediately notified the authorities.

The tiles of the roof were broken and missing. In addition to this, the floor was found to be damaged and there was debris found all over the floor. The deity was also found to be damaged.

A complaint has been registered with the police, seeking immediate action against the vandals. An FIR has been filed and an investigation is underway by the police led by Inspector Baskaran. This incident has caused widespread stir in the region.

It is noteworthy to mention that Tamil Nadu government had given the award for religious harmony to this town as all the communities come together during the annual Pongal festival.

(With inputs from The Hindu Tamil and Dhinasari)

(Image Credits: The Hindu Tamil, Dhinasari)

India makes inroad in Sydney test, Aakash Chopra slams Aussie media of acting as “12th man”

The Commune

January 8, 2021

As India start the day two of the Sydney Test on a positive note, a fresh controversy has emerged that the strict restrictions imposed due to Covid-19 is making the Indian cricket team reluctant to play the 4th Test at the Gabba in Brisbane, reports Hindustan Times.

However, former Indian test opener Aakash Chopra has slammed Australia media and said that they are creating an image as if Indian team is scared to play the Australian team at the Gabba.

Chopra described the Aussie media as the “12th man”, and said a narrative is being built to create an image that Indian team is “chickening out” of the Brisbane Test.

According to Chopra, the Australia media is creating an atmosphere before the final test match which will be played in Gabba, Brisbane as he thinks team India is better placed if the match takes place at Gabba, “because if we do a man-to-man marking, and if Steve Smith does not score runs, the weight is tilted towards the Indian side.”

Chopra’s comments in Hindi are now available on youtube and he minced no words when he called Australian media has become the 12th man and how the media got hold of a small video clip were Ravindra Jadeja and Ishant Sharma are arguing, and the stump mic caught some abusive exchanges between the players.

“I saw it during the last tour as well that mental disintegration is practised in Australia. When Australia lost the Adelaide Test last time, coach Justin Langer spoke to the media that this is a team of ‘bad boys’ and they ‘bully’ the other team. I was like ‘bully calling a bully, what are you doing?’. Then after they won the Perth Test, the media created a buzz that India cannot win in Perth,” Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel.

He questioned how the media got hold of these clips and said how former players, on the last tour, started saying that the team is really ill-mannered team after giving them a taste their own medicine.

Christian evangelists try to enter Srisailam Temple with Bible

The Commune

January 8, 2021

Two years ago in December 2019, four men were nabbed by the police for reading the Bible at a park close to the Srisailam Mallikarjuna Temple. Now, another incident has come to light where some people attempted to enter the the temple with Bible.

Devotees spotted some people, most likely to be Christian evangelists, in the “free darshan” queue. They informed the authorities who found that they had bible in their bags and trying to enter the temple. The Bible was seized and the evangelists were told to leave the premises immediately.

The Srisailam Temple in Andhra Pradesh, one of the Jyotirlingam pilgrimage sites, seems to have come under the attack of two Abrahamic faiths. While on one hand shops are being allocated to Muslims within the temple premises, the temple has been repeatedly eyed by Christian evangelists for proselytization purposes.

In December 2019, police arrested four men – Peter, Timothy, Praveen and Joshua – who came to the park just adjacent to the Mallikharjuna Temple and started reading the Bible while clicking photos.

In September 2019, a vehicle with a flex banner having Bible verses and photo of YSRCP leader YS Rajashekar Reddy, the father of Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Reddy’s was spotted by devotees. It was found that the owner of the vehicle was a fanatic Christian.

With respect to the influence of Muslims in the sacred site of Hindus, the temple contractor Mohammad Razaq has been giving contracts to Muslim shop owners who have been allowed to put up shops within the temple premises.

BJP leader and Goshamahal MLA Raja Singh has alleged that Muslims have taken over the businesses in the temple town, with the support of Srisailam MLA Silpa Chakrapani Reddy. He also said that Razaq is a close confidante of Reddy and Razaq’s brother is also a TDP leader. He said that the brothers have been able to influence the affairs in the temple town no matter which party (TDP or YSRCP) is in power.

Raja Singh also alleged that Razaq’s wife who is a Hindu and runs a Goshala (cow shed) has been helping her husband in cow slaughtering for meat consumption. Razaq has several cases pending against him. He is said to have transported mutton in flower baskets used for bringing flowers to the temple. Recently gold and other precious items were discovered under a Shiva Linga in Srisailam’s Ganta Matam which is also reportedly have been taken away by Razaq.

India, NDB sign loan agreements worth $646 million for Andhra Pradesh road projects

The Commune

January 7, 2021

The Government of India, the Government of Andhra Pradesh, and the New Development Bank (NDB) on January 6 signed loan agreements of up to $323 million each for two projects. The first project – Andhra Pradesh Roads and Bridges Reconstruction Project – comprises widening 1,600 km of State Highways to double lane and reconstructing dilapidated bridges on the State Highway network. The second project – Andhra Pradesh Mandal Connectivity and Rural Connectivity Improvement Project – comprises widening 1,400 km of district roads to double lane and reconstructing dilapidated bridges on the district road network. The Government of Andhra Pradesh will implement the Projects through the Roads and Buildings Department.

The two projects are expected to improve mobility and connectivity to the socioeconomic centres, enhance transport efficiency, improve road safety and riding quality, and provide all-weather accessibility for the State’s road users. The projects would increase the roads’ daily traffic capacity to 15,000 passenger car units, which is expected to meet the projected traffic growth over the next 20 years.

The agreement was signed by Baldeo Purushartha, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, M. T. Krishna Babu, Principal Secretary, Transport, Roads and Buildings Department and Xian Zhu, Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, NDB.

“India is committed to sustainable development and inclusive growth,” Baldeo Purushartha said in a statement. “The projects will contribute to the development of state infrastructure, enhance road connectivity and safety, and provide connectivity between adjoining Mandal headquarters and rural areas. The projects will also have a positive impact on employment generation and economic well-being.”

“The projects will expand the capacity of roads with high vehicular traffic, improve last-mile connectivity to ports and industrial hubs and enhance connectivity to rural areas contributing to the enhanced socioeconomic development of the State of Andhra Pradesh. NDB funding shall help to bridge the funding gap for road infrastructure development and will support the Government of Andhra Pradesh in its goal to enhance connectivity between socioeconomic centres”, said Zhu.

The tenor of each loan is 32 years, including a moratorium period of 5 years.

(Published from PIB)

Karnataka State Brahmin Development Board to provide aid to economically weaker Brahmin brides marrying within community

The Commune

January 7, 2021

The Karnataka State Brahmin Development Board has come out with two initiatives, aimed to benefit Brahmin brides from economically weaker sections.

The ‘Arundhati’ scheme will provide ₹25,000 to newly-wedded Brahmin women from poor families who marry within the community. Brides marrying priests (Archakas and Purohits) will be provided an aid of ₹3 lakh under the ‘Maitreyi’ programme.

This scheme in Karnataka will be launched by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and during the initial pilot project stage, 500 brides from poor backgrounds will be able to avail the benefit of Arundhati scheme and the Maitreyi scheme will be extended to 25 brides.

H S Sachidananda Murthy, Chairman of the state’s Brahmin Development Board was quoted saying in reports that the family availing the scheme has to produce a certificate citing they are from the economically backward class. The couple has to be married for at least five years and it should be their first marriage.

But the board will also be taking several other measures to alleviate the Brahmin community. 4,000 participants aged between 8-80 years will be given ₹500 for getting trained in “Sandhya Vandana” and pooja rituals.

The board also will spend ₹14 crore to provide scholarships to 5,800 students from the community.

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The Commune

India will become a trillion-dollar digital economy in 2021: NASSCOM Report

France has never allowed China to play any “procedural games” at the UNSC on Kashmir says Macron’s Advisor

Brother of DMK man orchestrates attack to get police protection, gets caught

Shocking: Amman temple in Pudukottai bombed by unidentified miscreants

India makes inroad in Sydney test, Aakash Chopra slams Aussie media of acting as “12th man”

Christian evangelists try to enter Srisailam Temple with Bible

India, NDB sign loan agreements worth $646 million for Andhra Pradesh road projects

Karnataka State Brahmin Development Board to provide aid to economically weaker Brahmin brides marrying within community

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