#Jharkhand Crime Prevention

[townpostin]

New Seraikela SP Makes Surprise Visit To Kandra Police Station

Mukesh Kumar Lunayat Emphasizes Community-Friendly Policing And Crime Reduction Officer reviews pending cases and directs focus on drug prevention efforts. GAMHARIA – The newly appointed Superintendent of Police for Seraikela district, Mukesh Kumar Lunayat, made a surprise visit to the Kandra police station on Wednesday. "During the visit," Lunayat stated, "our main focus is on delivering…

[news365timesindia]

[ad_1] GG News Bureau Mumbai, 14th Oct. The arrest and incarceration of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi have not quelled the dangers posed by his sprawling criminal network, which stretches across multiple states and maintains strong links to terror groups. Despite being behind bars for nearly a decade, Bishnoi’s influence over the gangster-terror nexus remains substantial. His alleged role in the recent murder of Baba Siddique, a former Maharashtra minister and NCP leader, highlights the alarming persistence of his operations. This incident is only the latest in a series of crimes where the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has connected Bishnoi’s network to terror activities and smuggling operations. Bishnoi’s connection to banned terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) has long been a point of concern for law enforcement agencies. The NIA’s ongoing investigations reveal a disturbing trend: a coordinated effort between Bishnoi’s syndicate and pro-Khalistan elements to destabilize the region. Notably, Bishnoi’s alliance with Goldy Brar, a Canada-based gangster with ties to BKI, has allowed him to extend his reach beyond India’s borders. The duo’s alleged involvement in extortion and violence, such as the RPG attack on Punjab’s State Intelligence headquarters in Mohali, has exposed the dangerous nexus between organized crime and terrorism. The NIA’s efforts to clamp down on Bishnoi’s syndicate have been substantial, involving the filing of chargesheets, the attachment of properties in multiple states, and the arrest of key associates. However, the persistence of Bishnoi’s criminal enterprise, even from within the confines of jail, underscores the complexities of dismantling such networks. His ability to coordinate operations with incarcerated gang members and manage seamless communication channels speaks to a systemic problem in how gangsters exploit prison facilities to maintain their control over criminal activities. A particularly concerning aspect of this network is its relentless recruitment drive. Bishnoi’s gang continues to prey on impressionable youth across Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Jharkhand. This recruitment not only fuels their extortion rackets but also strengthens the nexus with terror outfits, making it harder to isolate and neutralize such threats. The youth drawn into these networks often become pawns, trained to carry out violent activities under the directives of gang leaders like Bishnoi and their terror associates. The case of Bishnoi also reveals deeper challenges within India’s fight against organized crime and terror networks. The involvement of cross-border elements, such as the smuggling of arms, ammunition, and drugs from Pakistan, adds another layer of complexity to the NIA’s task. For every move made to weaken Bishnoi’s grip, his syndicate adapts, seeking new ways to maintain their operations and assert their influence over local communities. This issue is not merely about law enforcement; it is about the systemic threats to regional stability and security. It calls for a multi-pronged approach, including community outreach programs to prevent youth recruitment, better monitoring of communication within prisons, and enhanced intelligence-sharing between states. The NIA’s work is crucial, but without coordinated efforts across law enforcement agencies and a focus on dismantling the support systems that allow syndicates like Bishnoi’s to thrive, the challenge remains significant. The death of Baba Siddique is a tragic reminder of how deeply entrenched such networks are, capable of orchestrating violence even from within prison walls. The path forward lies in a relentless pursuit of justice, closing the loopholes that enable these syndicates, and ensuring that the long arm of the law reaches every corner of the criminal-terror nexus. Only then can we hope to curtail the influence of figures like Lawrence Bishnoi and secure a safer future for the region. [ad_2]

[news365times]

[ad_1] GG News Bureau Mumbai, 14th Oct. The arrest and incarceration of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi have not quelled the dangers posed by his sprawling criminal network, which stretches across multiple states and maintains strong links to terror groups. Despite being behind bars for nearly a decade, Bishnoi’s influence over the gangster-terror nexus remains substantial. His alleged role in the recent murder of Baba Siddique, a former Maharashtra minister and NCP leader, highlights the alarming persistence of his operations. This incident is only the latest in a series of crimes where the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has connected Bishnoi’s network to terror activities and smuggling operations. Bishnoi’s connection to banned terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) has long been a point of concern for law enforcement agencies. The NIA’s ongoing investigations reveal a disturbing trend: a coordinated effort between Bishnoi’s syndicate and pro-Khalistan elements to destabilize the region. Notably, Bishnoi’s alliance with Goldy Brar, a Canada-based gangster with ties to BKI, has allowed him to extend his reach beyond India’s borders. The duo’s alleged involvement in extortion and violence, such as the RPG attack on Punjab’s State Intelligence headquarters in Mohali, has exposed the dangerous nexus between organized crime and terrorism. The NIA’s efforts to clamp down on Bishnoi’s syndicate have been substantial, involving the filing of chargesheets, the attachment of properties in multiple states, and the arrest of key associates. However, the persistence of Bishnoi’s criminal enterprise, even from within the confines of jail, underscores the complexities of dismantling such networks. His ability to coordinate operations with incarcerated gang members and manage seamless communication channels speaks to a systemic problem in how gangsters exploit prison facilities to maintain their control over criminal activities. A particularly concerning aspect of this network is its relentless recruitment drive. Bishnoi’s gang continues to prey on impressionable youth across Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Jharkhand. This recruitment not only fuels their extortion rackets but also strengthens the nexus with terror outfits, making it harder to isolate and neutralize such threats. The youth drawn into these networks often become pawns, trained to carry out violent activities under the directives of gang leaders like Bishnoi and their terror associates. The case of Bishnoi also reveals deeper challenges within India’s fight against organized crime and terror networks. The involvement of cross-border elements, such as the smuggling of arms, ammunition, and drugs from Pakistan, adds another layer of complexity to the NIA’s task. For every move made to weaken Bishnoi’s grip, his syndicate adapts, seeking new ways to maintain their operations and assert their influence over local communities. This issue is not merely about law enforcement; it is about the systemic threats to regional stability and security. It calls for a multi-pronged approach, including community outreach programs to prevent youth recruitment, better monitoring of communication within prisons, and enhanced intelligence-sharing between states. The NIA’s work is crucial, but without coordinated efforts across law enforcement agencies and a focus on dismantling the support systems that allow syndicates like Bishnoi’s to thrive, the challenge remains significant. The death of Baba Siddique is a tragic reminder of how deeply entrenched such networks are, capable of orchestrating violence even from within prison walls. The path forward lies in a relentless pursuit of justice, closing the loopholes that enable these syndicates, and ensuring that the long arm of the law reaches every corner of the criminal-terror nexus. Only then can we hope to curtail the influence of figures like Lawrence Bishnoi and secure a safer future for the region. [ad_2]

[cybercrime-blogs]

Global Cyber Fraud Syndicate Unveiled: Chinese-Taiwanese Collaboration in Cryptocurrency Scam

In a significant breakthrough, the Cyber Station Police of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Jharkhand has successfully apprehended a 31-year-old resident of Taiwan, Jeevan Gopinath Galdhar, involved in a sophisticated cyber fraud operation targeting individuals in India. The arrest took place upon Galdhar's arrival in India from Taiwan, following a lookout notice issued against him.

Also Read: Cybercrime in Nagpur - Cyber Blackmailer Couple Arrested in Pune for Extorting Money

Arrest Details and Seized Items

Upon detaining Galdhar, law enforcement authorities discovered a cache of incriminating evidence. Confiscated items included 3300 Taiwan dollars, Rs 48,400 in cash, two mobile phones, two SIM cards, a Bank of Taiwan credit card, four ATMs, Aadhaar and PAN cards, two credit cards, and a passport belonging to the accused.

Unveiling Fraudulent Activities

The genesis of the case traces back to July 5 when a victim from Dhanbad filed a complaint with the Cyber Crime Police Station in Ranchi. The victim reported falling prey to an online fraud scheme that encompassed various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the IT Act. The modus operandi involved the accused contacting the victim through a profile on www.jeevansathi.com, enticing them to invest in cryptocurrency with promises of substantial profits.

Also Read: Kashmiri Brother-in-Law could not show Kamal, and pressure on Nagpur police failed

The victim was led to register on a fraudulent website, www.banocoin.org, where they deposited money into different bank accounts via UPI. The fraudulent website then showcased false profits, deceiving the victim. Subsequent investigations unveiled the operation of the fake website from locations in Hong Kong, China, and Cambodia. Further scrutiny of the financial trail exposed multiple bank accounts associated with fictitious companies registered in Maharashtra, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh, facilitating transactions totaling millions of rupees. The accused successfully defrauded the victim of Rs 95,02,000, prompting swift police action, resulting in the freezing of Rs 67,00,000 across the fraudulent accounts.

Also Read: Pune Couple's Organized Cyber Blackmailing Scandal Uncovered

Multi-Agency Collaboration and Accomplices

Collaboration between the Cyber Police Station in Ranchi, the Indian Crime Coordination Center, and the Cyber Police in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, proved instrumental in tracing the involvement of a cyber criminal residing in Taiwan. This individual had collaborated with a Chinese citizen to establish accounts in India, channeling funds obtained from part-time job fraud and cryptocurrency scams into various shell companies' accounts in India. The illicitly obtained money was then transferred to different Blockchain wallet addresses on cryptocurrency exchanges. Earlier in the investigation, two associates of the accused, Prateek Santosh Rawat and Abhishek Tupe, were apprehended in Aurangabad, Maharashtra.

Preventive Measures and Advisory

In light of this cyber fraud case, authorities issued a series of precautions to protect individuals from falling victim to similar schemes. Citizens were advised to refrain from exchanging money with unknown international or virtual numbers, avoid clicking on unfamiliar links received via SMS, steer clear of investing in unknown bank accounts or cryptocurrency wallets, and promptly report any instances of fraud to the Cyber Crime Helpline (1930) or www.cybercrime.gov.in. Additionally, users were urged to verify the authenticity of matrimonial sites like jeevansathi.com before engaging with them.

Also Read: Pune Couple's Organized Cyber Blackmailing Scandal Uncovered

Conclusion

The successful arrest of Jeevan Gopinath Galdhar and the dismantling of the international cyber fraud ring underscore the significance of collaborative efforts between law enforcement agencies. This case serves as a stark reminder of the evolving nature of cyber threats and the need for constant vigilance to protect individuals from falling prey to sophisticated online scams. Authorities continue to emphasize awareness and education as crucial tools in the ongoing battle against cybercrime, urging citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities promptly.

Source: https://www.the420.in/global-cyber-fraud-syndicate-unveiled-chinese-taiwanese-collaboration-cryptocurrency-scam/

[newslime]

Naxal attack on former MLA: NIA files second charge sheet against two accused in Jharkhand

According to the NIA's investigations, they were providing support to the CPI (Maoist) for furthering its terror and violence-related activities and waging a war against the government of India.

NEW DELHI: The NIA has filed its second supplementary charge sheet in a case related to a Naxal attack on former MLA Gurcharan Nayak in which two police personnel were killed in Jharkhand in January 2022, an official said on Monday.

The charge sheet was filed in a special NIA court in Ranchi against two armed cadres — 25-year-old Tivari Bankira alias Shaka and 20-year-old Sadan Korah alias Sajan — of the proscribed CPI (Maoist) terror group on Saturday, a spokesperson for the federal agency said.

The official said the pair, hailing from Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district, has been charged under various sections of the Indian Panel Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

While Bankira was arrested on November 30, Korah has been in custody since February 13, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) spokesperson said.

According to the NIA’s investigations, they were providing support to the CPI (Maoist) for furthering its terror and violence-related activities and waging a war against the government of India.

“They were part of the conspiracy to carry out the terrorist attack on Nayak and his bodyguards. They were also part of the special action team established by the banned terror outfit to execute the crime,” the spokesperson said.

The NIA said the two accused had attended the meeting in which the conspiracy to attack Nayak with deadly weapons at High School Jhilrua was hatched.

“They had done a recce of the spot a day before the incident and had also participated in the training to execute the attack,” the NIA said in its charge sheet.

The former MLA was attacked on the school premises in West Sighbhum district on January 4, 2022.

The police had initially registered the case at the local station but the investigation was taken over by the NIA on June 30 last year.

On December 31, the NIA charge-sheeted 14 accused people in the case.

[currentmediasstuff]

Naxal attack on former MLA: NIA files second charge sheet against two accused in Jharkhand

According to the NIA's investigations, they were providing support to the CPI (Maoist) for furthering its terror and violence-related activities and waging a war against the government of India.

NEW DELHI: The NIA has filed its second supplementary charge sheet in a case related to a Naxal attack on former MLA Gurcharan Nayak in which two police personnel were killed in Jharkhand in January 2022, an official said on Monday.

The charge sheet was filed in a special NIA court in Ranchi against two armed cadres — 25-year-old Tivari Bankira alias Shaka and 20-year-old Sadan Korah alias Sajan — of the proscribed CPI (Maoist) terror group on Saturday, a spokesperson for the federal agency said.

The official said the pair, hailing from Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district, has been charged under various sections of the Indian Panel Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

While Bankira was arrested on November 30, Korah has been in custody since February 13, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) spokesperson said.

According to the NIA’s investigations, they were providing support to the CPI (Maoist) for furthering its terror and violence-related activities and waging a war against the government of India.

“They were part of the conspiracy to carry out the terrorist attack on Nayak and his bodyguards. They were also part of the special action team established by the banned terror outfit to execute the crime,” the spokesperson said.

The NIA said the two accused had attended the meeting in which the conspiracy to attack Nayak with deadly weapons at High School Jhilrua was hatched.

“They had done a recce of the spot a day before the incident and had also participated in the training to execute the attack,” the NIA said in its charge sheet.

The former MLA was attacked on the school premises in West Sighbhum district on January 4, 2022.

The police had initially registered the case at the local station but the investigation was taken over by the NIA on June 30 last year.

On December 31, the NIA charge-sheeted 14 accused people in the case.

[economyandfinancialnews]

An august requiem for Father Stan Swamy

The activist-priest faced charges in the Bhima Koregaon case for inciting caste violence. But something doesn’t quite add up

The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain neutrality,” said medieval thinker Dante Alighieri. He could well have been speaking about the present times where conscience is flaming out. As we all go about worrying about our own lives in the Corona era, a lot more is happening during the lockdown — detentions, lockups, undertrials succumbing to inordinate delays and common people’s eternal wait for justice.

This is as much about Father Stan Swamy as it is about us. Sometimes the breath and conscience are all there is between the living and dead. If it does not simmer, a person may be living yet dead. Sometimes an individual’s death allows us to ponder over how alive we are — socially, politically and morally.

Father Stanislaus Lourduswamy died on a hospital bed in Mumbai under incarceration, waiting for an interim bail that never came. He was admitted to a private hospital and put on ventilator after contracting COVID in the cramped Taloja jail. Finally, on July 6, post-COVID aftereffects, Parkinson’s and the system’s apathy got the better of him. An ailing octogenarian who had no criminal record or history of violence was denied bail despite several appeals. His death left the system on a metaphorical ventilator; gasping for air, clamouring for a bailout.

Father Stan was born in Tamil Nadu and had imbibed his liberal ideas in the Philippines. He chose to work for the welfare of tribals in Jharkhand. He was also a Jesuit priest, a Christian missionary working in tribal areas. These two descriptions are enough to make his credentials suspect. A “liberal activist” conveniently translates as “Maoist”. Christian missionary swaps well for a conversion enthusiast. One could wonder why it took him so long to earn the system’s ire. Was it his credentials or his work in tribal areas that did him in? It wasn’t. It was when he threw the spanner in the works by questioning Adani’s political juggernaut. He objected to the forceful acquisition of land for the Adani power plant in Godda at a throwaway price. The project got hasty environmental clearances from the Government in 2017. The landowners were never paid what was due to them. The project had enormous environmental costs as well. For clearing forests, gram sabha’s consent was never sought.

Father Stan was asking uncomfortable questions, making the powers-that-be nervous. He filed a PIL in 2017 against the detention of 72 prisoners in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district. Adivasi and Dalit youths were jailed under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Their only crime was that they had protested the illegal acquisition of their land and forests. They stood against the corporations that had the State’s backing. Three years later, he was also booked under the UAPA in far-off Maharashtra.

The message was loud and clear: You do not mess with the system. If you do, the system will fix you, slowly but surely. He was one of the 16 accused in what is now known as the Bhima Koregaon case for inciting caste violence and plotting to assassinate the Prime Minister. He was arrested from his ashram in Ranchi and locked up in Taloja jail in October 2020. It is interesting to note how the system works. The 40-odd policemen arrested him within hours after the orders. Nevertheless, the trial for such a sensitive case is yet to start. Our system does work, though selectively!

A liberal by intellect and a God-fearing Christian by heart, the two opposites met in him and synthesised. Thanks to NIA, he holds the rare distinction of being the oldest person to be charged for terror activities. He was treated as a petty criminal without any entitlements and privileges that should have come with his age, if nothing else. He suffered from Parkinson’s and could not even sign or hold a cup to drink water. He fell down several times. It took just eight months to kill him.

The Bhima Koregaon case would take years to decide. The NIA and public prosecutors would indeed have evidence to prove he was involved. The judge would listen to the plea of both sides and decide. Of course, he would not consider reports that the laptop was hacked and injected with malware to plant evidence against Stan; more so if the newspaper happens to be Washington Post.

The judges are not supposed to work under media pressure or the Government, no matter how high-profile the case may be. Bail is not an undertrial’s right but a judge’s discretion, his call based on facts presented before him. That Father Stan could wage a war against the State from a hospital bed or destroy evidence with his trembling hands or could have jumped bail though he could not walk, these facts must have crossed the judge’s mind while declining his bail petition. He died 46 days later. In the film Jolly LLB, the judge quips: “Kanoon andha hota hai judge nahin, usey sab dikhta hai” (Law is blind, not the judge; he sees everything)”. Wish the judge had seen the truth through. He could have bailed out the judiciary!

(The writer is a columnist and documentary filmmaker. The views expressed are personal.)

[marwahstudios]

A salute to 50 Most Popular District Police Chiefs committed to peace, service, justice, and security

New Delhi: The growth and overall development of an area are possible only when there is a strong sense of security and belief among its people. This becomes possible only with the help of an efficient and hardworking police force of that particular area. There is a popular belief, that any force is as good as its leader. As such it becomes pertinent for any District Police captain to set an example for their subordinates.

“A District police captain, be it an SSP, SP, DCP, Police Commissioner, plays a crucial role in maintaining the law and order of a district and thereby helps in building a fearless society, which is also the topmost priority of any government.  Right from preventing extortion, loot, robbery, rape and other heinous crimes, a District police captain (Superintendent of police) inculcates a feeling of security among people by his action and deeds,” said Sandeep Marwah Chancellor of AAFT University of Media And Arts and part of team Fame India.

The Editor-in-chief of Fame India, U.S. Sonthalia said that being a positive and constructive media group, this time we have decided to recognize the yeoman service of all those District police chief who by their sheer dint of hard work earned a name for themselves.  Frankly speaking, it was a very challenging task to select just 50 popular District police chiefs out of over 700 police captains across the country.

Based on various sources and aided by our ground survey, the Fame India Magazine and Asia Post Survey shortlisted 200 District police chiefs. Factors like controlling crime in their districts to improving law and order, efficient working style, being people-friendly, farsighted, and quick decision making were some of the parameters which were taken into account while preparing this elite list.  These 200 District police chiefs were then put into 50 illustrious categories… Of these, names of the 50 most deserving District police chiefs are being published.

List of Fame India Magazine-Asia Post’s annual survey “50 Popular District Police Captain 2021”: –

Dr. Preetinder Singh (former SSP – Kanpur) Uttar Pradesh, Ajay Yadav SSP – Raipur Chhattisgarh, Kartikeya Police Commissioner – Nizamabad Telangana, Vikramjit Singh Duggal SSP – Patiala Punjab, Joginder Kumar SSP  Uttar Pradesh, Senthil Avoodai SSP – Haridwar Uttarakhand, Amanjeet Kaur SP – Nalbari Assam, Deepak Kumar Jha SP – Jagdalpur Chhattisgarh, Anto Alphonse DCP – North Delhi Delhi, Pankaj Kumar Singh SSP – South Goa Goa, Preeti Chandra SP – Bikaner Rajasthan, Vidhi Choudhary DCP – Surat Gujarat, Bablu Kumar SSP Uttar Pradesh and Jayant Kant SSP – Muzaffarpur Bihar are in the list.

Amit Sanghi, SP Gwalior Madhya Pradesh, Ajay Kumar Sahni SSP – Meerut Uttar Pradesh Rahul Sharma SP – Rohtak Haryana, Virendra Kumar Singh SP – Singrauli Madhya Pradesh, Dr. Abhinav Deshmukh SP – Kolhapur Maharashtra, Gaurav Kumar Tiwari SP – Ratlam Madhya Pradesh, Aravindhan P SP – Trivuvallur Tamil Nadu, Kuwar Vishal Singh SP – Puri Orissa, Alka Meena SSP – SBS Nagar Punjab, Kalanithi Naithani SSP – Ghaziabad Uttar Pradesh  (has been transferred), Mohit Chawla SP – Shimla Himachal Pradesh, Dhurat Sayli SP – Nawada Bihar and Prabhakar Chaudhary SSP – Moradabad Uttar Pradesh are also part of the list of awardees.

Vinita Sahu DCP – Navi Mumbai Maharashtra, Shweta Shrimali SP – Jamnagar Gujarat, Sagar Singh Kalsi SP – ACB Jammu Kashmir, Chandan Jha SP – Bokaro Jharkhand, Anand Mishra SP – Dhubri Assam, Mokshada Patil SP – Aurangabad (Rural) Maharashtra, Parminder Singh DCP – Outer Delhi Delhi, Kumar Ashish SP – Kishanganj Bihar, Siddharth Kaushal SP – Prakasam Andhra Pradesh, Shalini Agnihotri SP – Mandi Himachal Pradesh, Preeti Priyadarshini SSP – Nainital Uttarakhand, Vivek Singh SP – Khandwa Madhya Pradesh, Ganga Ram Punia SP – Karnal Haryana, Tejaswini Gautam SP – Alwar Rajasthan, Rahul Tripathi SP – Gir Somnath Gujarat and Tripti Bhatt SSP – Tehri Garhwal Uttarakhand also make to the list of best police officers.

Chandan Kohli,SSP – Jammu, Jammu Kashmir, Priyanka Meena SP – Lohardaga Jharkhand, Dr. Mohit Kumar Garg SP – Ratnagiri Maharashtra, Kartikeya Sharma SP – Sheikhpura Bihar, Sachin Sharma SP – Chhatarpur Madhya Pradesh, Arpit Jain DCP – Faridabad Haryana and Lipi Singh SP – Saharsa Bihar will be awarded with best police officers.

[townpostin]

Jamshedpur Police Unveil New Program to Boost Women's Safety

Top official inspects emergency services, cybercrime unit during launch event Jamshedpur authorities have introduced a groundbreaking initiative aimed at enhancing security for women in the city. JAMSHEDPUR – A high-ranking police official inaugurated a novel women’s safety program in Jamshedpur, while also evaluating local law enforcement operations. The South Chhota Nagpur Range’s Inspector…

[upshotre]

Woman, Daughter killed in India for Practising Witchcraft

An Indian woman and her daughter were beaten and hacked to death in eastern India for allegedly practising witchcraft, police said on Saturday.     The killings took place in Jharkhand state’s West Singhbhum district on Thursday, senior police officer Anand Mohan Singh said.   The 56-year-old woman, Malti Devi, was attacked by her neighbour, also a distant relative, who accused her of witchcraft and blamed her for deaths in his family, Singh said.     “The woman recently performed some rituals at her place after which the suspect’s wife fell ill. He, along with two others brutally beat the women with wooden sticks and later hacked them using a sharp edged weapon,” Singh said.   The police launched investigations after the victim’s husband, who was not home at the time of the murders, reported the crime to the local police station. The three suspects are still on the run. Some Indian states like Jharkhand have introduced a “Prevention of Witch Hunting Act” since 2000. However, incidents of torture and murders of women branded as witches are still reported, particularly from poor and rural regions of the country where superstitious beliefs are common. Read the full article

[cybercrime-blogs]

Law Enforcement Gears Up: I4C Conducts Cryptocurrency and Investment Scam Training

In an effort to enhance the capabilities of law enforcement agencies and public prosecutors in addressing cryptocurrency-related frauds, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), conducted an intensive one-day training session in Ranchi, Jharkhand on Tuesday.

Bolstering Defenses Against Financial Fraud

The surge in cryptocurrency and investment scams in recent years has presented substantial challenges to law enforcement agencies. Recognizing the imperative to empower the police force and public prosecutors with the requisite skills and knowledge to combat these dynamic forms of financial fraud, the I4C orchestrated this training initiative.

Also Read: Cybercrime in Nagpur - Cyber Blackmailer Couple Arrested in Pune for Extorting Money

The event drew a diverse assembly of law enforcement officers and public prosecutors, all eager to augment their proficiency in addressing cryptocurrency and investment frauds. The training prioritized imparting participants with the essential tools needed to effectively investigate, prosecute, and prevent these fraudulent activities.

In a dynamic one-day training session, participants engaged in a series of instructive and practical workshops. Facilitated by experts from the I4C, in collaboration with specialists in cryptocurrency and financial fraud, the training provided a platform for sharing insights and experiences. Here are some key takeaways from the session:

Cryptocurrency Insights:

Attendees received a thorough overview of cryptocurrency, including its technologies and operational mechanisms. This foundational knowledge is crucial for comprehending the methods employed in cryptocurrency-related scams.

Also Read: Kashmiri Brother-in-Law could not show Kamal, and pressure on Nagpur police failed

Detection of Investment Scams:

The training extensively covered the diverse array of investment scams prevalent in today's digital landscape. Officers were equipped with the skills to identify fraudulent schemes, enabling them to safeguard potential victims from falling prey to these deceptive traps.

Legal Procedures and Due Process:

An integral aspect of the training involved educating officers on the legal procedures essential for handling cryptocurrency and investment fraud cases. Emphasis was placed on the significance of adhering to due process, ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice within the bounds of the law.

Application through Real-World Case Studies:

The participants had the opportunity to engage with real-world case studies, providing them with a practical outlet to apply their newly acquired knowledge. These case studies offered valuable insights into the intricacies of investigating and prosecuting financial fraud.

Also Read: Pune Couple's Organized Cyber Blackmailing Scandal Uncovered

This training not only empowered the frontline with essential knowledge but also equipped them with practical skills to navigate the complex landscape of cryptocurrency and financial fraud. As Ranchi takes strides towards a more secure digital environment, these trained officers stand as a resilient frontline against emerging threats.

In Ranchi, Jharkhand, a pivotal training program is underway as part of a comprehensive initiative led by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and the Ministry of Home Affairs. The overarching goal is to fortify the nation's cybersecurity infrastructure, equipping law enforcement officials with the tools needed to effectively combat the rising tide of cybercrimes, particularly those related to cryptocurrency and investment scams. These fraudulent activities have inflicted substantial financial losses on both individuals and organizations, prompting strategic measures to mitigate such risks.

Addressing the Growing Threats

Cryptocurrency and investment scams have emerged as formidable threats, draining millions of rupees from unsuspecting victims. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the I4C and the Ministry of Home Affairs have initiated targeted training programs. These sessions aim to empower officers and prosecutors with the knowledge and skills required to confront the evolving challenges posed by financial fraud in the digital era.

A Nationwide Initiative

This training program in Ranchi is just the beginning. The I4C, in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs and other law enforcement agencies, envisions a series of similar sessions across the country. The objective is clear: to ensure that law enforcement professionals nationwide are well-prepared and equipped to tackle the multifaceted threats posed by cryptocurrency and investment scams.

Also Read: Pune Couple's Organized Cyber Blackmailing Scandal Uncovered

Charting the Path Forward

As the battle against financial fraud intensifies, the I4C's commitment to educating and empowering frontline defenders of justice is poised to yield a substantial impact. Through these targeted training initiatives, law enforcement agencies aspire to construct a more resilient and secure environment for individuals and businesses navigating the complexities of the digital age.

In conclusion, Ranchi's training program serves as a testament to the proactive efforts being undertaken to fortify the nation's defenses against financial fraud. With a collective commitment to staying ahead of cybercriminals, these initiatives strive to create a landscape where individuals and businesses can thrive without falling victim to the perils of digital deception.

Source: https://www.the420.in/i4c-cryptocurrency-investment-scam-training-ranchi/

[marymosley]

What provokes a person to become a serial killer? Are these factors inborn or are included in their course of life

What is crime?

Tappan (1947) defined the crime as, “crime is as an intentional act in violation of the criminal law which is committed without defense or excuse, and penalized by the state as a criminal offense.” (UKessays, 2018, para.3) There are different types of crimes such as crimes against persons, crimes against property, crime against morality, white-collar crime, and organized crime dividing into offences like murder, thefts, drug-abuse, rapes, child abuse, cyber crime, and smuggling. Most of the crimes are committed in an organized manner.

Who is a criminal?  

Criminal is a person who convicts crime or disobeys the set of laws. Anyone can be a criminal; everyone has their own choice about their future. The factors such as background, derisive childhood, poverty are not the complete causes for leading a scandalous life. Criminal behavior is the act of omission of duty which includes the commission of an unlawful act by an offender that makes it liable to punishment. Research says that criminal behavior is learned and is the intentional behavior to violate the law. To be convicted as a criminal, an individual must have knowledge about what he or she had attempted to do resulting in violation of law. (Helfgott, 2015).

Case Study- John McAvoy was born and raised in a criminal family. His career turned over from a criminal to a well known top class athlete. At the age of 16, he was robbing a security van and he was also caught carrying a gun. After two years, he was at the Old Bailey facing nine counts of armed robbery due to which he was sentenced to a high security prison at Belmarch, London. Then he went through a tragedy where he lost his best friend and that was a turning point in his life when he decided to not to continue being a criminal and worked hard to break records of British and world rowing in prison.  He is now leading a perfect life being a coach, public-speaker, triathlete and also known as ironman. This is an example to state that criminal behavior can transfer a person from violent criminal to opinion leader.

  Who is a Serial Killer?

A serial killer is someone who is been involved in a crime of killing of several numbers of people over a short interval. (US Legal, 2019,para.1). They are pretended to commit crime for motives such as sexual compulsion or even recreation. In some cases, the death of the victims gives the criminals the pleasure of being powerful.  (Keatly et.al,2018). The biological, social, and psychological features operate and interact to shape the developmental trajectories of serial killers. They are considered as the most harmful and obnoxious individual as they are the one who shows irritability, aggression and impulsivity. The nature of the person is unstable and superficial in emotional contact, reacts vigorously and has a low capacity of reasoning.  The psychological characteristics of offences generate an explanation of the different behavior to asset ways to detect, prevent and to eliminate it, and to explore techniques to improve and social recovery for the offender.  (Ioana, 2013).

  What are the motives of serial killers?

·       Visionary motive- insane or psychotic

·       Mission-orientated- they want to cause difficulties for people they consider immoral or unworthy such as prostitutes.

·       Hedonistic- those who derives pleasure from killing

·       Power/Control- want to gain power and control over the victim.

  Serial killer- Nature versus Nurture

According to the research done by Ressler, Burgess, and Douglas (1988), one third of the serial killers moved away from their family in their childhood approximately by the age of 18. It was also evidenced by Alley et al. (2004) that 10% of the serial killers had a head injury at the past which can be considered in terms of biological mediators. A study was done on the relationship between the offender and their family which resulted into having an abusive relationship. (Hickey, 1992; Miller, 2014). Canter, Missen, and Hodge (1996) investigated the backgrounds of serial killer and found most of them were previously involved and convicted of different crimes.

It is observed that most of the signs of becoming a serial killer can be witnessed or adopted during the preschool years. The researchers have also explored that different children have different approaches towards the situation and things they adapt. These differences can also be noticed due to different childhood experiences such as social skills, biological and genetic predispositions and feelings for others. The neurological, biological, mental, emotional and social changes in children plays an important role in the development of an individual and these changes can also influence in a negative way in the emergence of criminal behavior and offence. (Bartol, 2018).  For serial killer both nature and nurture side is important. The natural factors may affect people in order to violence and crime but nurture depends on the parental behavior and abilities towards the children.

   CASE STUDY-1

RICHARD CHASE– an American, who killed six people in one month time period. He was born into a strict family and was abused by his parents. In his teenage, he got addicted to alcohol and made a habit to set fire. Later in his teen, he could not follow a normal sexual function without necrophilic act. Chase showed a sociopathic behavior such as animal cruelty, fire setting and drinking of victim’s blood. He was diagnosed with McDonald Triad followed by paranoid schizophrenia. He used to kill various animal and mix there raw organs with drink which according to him will prevent his heart from shrinking. Later he killed his second victim, had intercourse with her dead body and took bath with the women’s blood. He was then involved in necrophilia and cannibalism with all the victims. His last crime was kidnapping a 6 year old girl, harassed her and killed her. Later drank her blood and ate her organs before disposing the body of the girl. In his case, he might have been affected as in his childhood he was abused at the hands of his mother. (ThoughtCo., 2019). He was putted behind the bars for all his crimes and found dead in his cell as he was mentally tortured by the criminals with him. Also he was disturbed by the gruesome details of his crimes. Whether it was the constant suggestions or just his own tortured mind, Chase managed to collect enough prescribed antidepressants to kill him. In Chase’s case both nature and nurture plays equally important role. (ThoughtCo., 2019)

  References:-

Bartol (2008). The Development of Habitual Criminal Behavior, Criminal Psychology, (pp.224-263).

Canter, Missen, and Hodge (1996) A case for special agent. Policing Today. 2(1), 2

Douglas, J., Burgess, A. W., Burgess, A. G., Ressler, R. K. (1992). Crime classification manual: A standard system for investigating and classifying violent crimes. John Wiley & Sons.

Essays, UK. (November 2018). The Legal Definition Of Crime. Retrieved from https://www.ukessays.com/essays/criminology/legal-definition-of-crime-criminology-essay.php?vref=1

Helfgott J.B. (2015) Criminal behavior and the copycat effect: Literature review and theoretical framework for empirical investigation. ScienceDirect, 22, 46-64. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2015.02.002

Hickey (2014)Serial Murderer and Their Victims. JSTOR Arts & Sciences.21(3), 373-374.doi:https://www-jstororg.ezproxy.tees.ac.uk/stable/2076297?origin=crossref&seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents

Hodgkinson S, Prins H and Bennett J.S. (2017) Mpnsters, madmen… and myths: A critical review of the serial killing literature. Science direct, 34, 282-289. Doi:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1359178916301999

Ioana I.M (2013) No One is Born a Serial Killer!. ScienceDirect. 81, 324-328. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.06.436

Keatley D.A et, al. (2018) Using Behavior Sequence Analysis to Map Serial Killers’ Life Histories. Journal of Interpersonal Violence.doi: https://journals-sagepub-com.ezproxy.tees.ac.uk/doi/full/10.1177/0886260518759655

ThoughtCo (2019) Profile of Richard Chase. Retrieved on:15 April,2020 From: https://www.thoughtco.com/profile-of-serial-killer-richard-chase-973176

US Legal (2019) Serial Killer Law and Legal Definition. Retrieved on:14 April, 2020. From: https://ift.tt/3fnRsPB

 Author :- Vaibhavi , Intern at Legal Desire (2020)

Vaibhavi is an enthusiastic, honest and hardworking graduate who possesses academic knowledge of forensic science with practical exposure with the ability to establish priorities and face challenges in the future. She has completed her Bachelor’s in Forensic science from Galgotias University and currently, pursuing her Masters in Forensic Science with Advanced Practice from Teesside University, United Kingdom. She has gained some experience working on DNA Sequencer, GC-MS, Real-Time PCR, PCR, GC, ICP-OES, the latest version of Microscopes in Biological and Ballistics examination works and other equipment used in the Forensic Science Laboratory during her internship at State Forensic Science Laboratory, Ranchi, Jharkhand. She is also an associate member of The Chartered Society Of Forensic Science. Vaibhavi lives in Middlesbrough, United Kingdom.

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Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE Updates: India confirms 20,471 COVID-19 cases with 652 deaths; WHO says 'long way to go' to tackle pandemic

08:11 (IST)

Coronavirus in India Latest Updates

Confirmed COVID-19 cases in India crosses 20,000, deaths top 650

The total number of novel coronavirus cases in India surged past 20,000 on Wednesday. At least 1,486 fresh cases emerged in the last 24 hours, taking the COVID-19 count in the country to 20,471, according to the latest Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data.

With 49 deaths recorded since Tuesday, the toll now stands at 652, it said.

So far, India has 15,589 active cases. There are also 77 foreign nationals who are affected by the virus, the ministry said.

07:58 (IST)

Coronavirus in India Latest Updates

Amid lockdown, airborne particle levels plummet in northern India at 20-yr low: NASA

The nationwide lockdown imposed in India in view of the coronavirus outbreak has decreased activity at factories and severely reduced car, bus, truck, and airplane traffic. After just a week of reduced human activities, NASA satellite sensors observed aerosol levels at a 20-year low for this time of year in the northern parts of the country.

Every year, aerosols from anthropogenic (human-made) sources contribute to unhealthy levels of air pollution in many cities. Aerosols are tiny solid and liquid particles suspended in the air that reduce visibility and can damage the human lungs and heart.

"We knew we would see changes in atmospheric composition in many places during the lockdown," said Pawan Gupta, a Universities Space Research Association (USRA) scientist at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. "But I have never seen aerosol values so low in the Indo-Gangetic Plain at this time of year."

07:40 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak Latest Updates

WHO says 'long way to go' to tackle COVID-19 crisis as global toll crosses 180,000

The World Health Organization on Wednesday warned that the coronavirus crisis would not end any time soon, with many countries only in the early stages of the fight, as the global death count surpassed 180,000.

The pandemic has sparked not only a health emergency, but a global economic rout, with businesses struggling to survive, millions left jobless, and millions more facing starvation.

07:33 (IST)

Coronavirus in West Bengal Latest Updates

COVID-19 patient in Howrah gives birth, condition of both stable 

A COVID-19 patient in West Bengal's Howrah district gave birth to a baby and the health condition of both of them is stable, hospital authorities said on Wednesday.

The pregnant woman was admitted to the Sanjiban Hospital in the Fuleswar area on 13 April and she later tested positive for the infectious disease, said its Director Subhasis Mitra.

The woman, a resident of Howrah city, gave birth to the baby boy around 8 pm on Monday, he said.

Coronavirus Outbreak LATEST Updates: The total number of novel coronavirus cases in India surged past 20,000 on Wednesday. At least 1,486 fresh cases emerged in the last 24 hours, taking the COVID-19 count in the country to 20,471, according to the latest Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data.

With 49 deaths recorded since Tuesday, the toll now stands at 652, it said.

The countrywide COVID-19 toll rose to 652 while the number of cases jumped to 20,471 on Wednesday, an increase of 49 fatalities and 1,486 cases since Tuesday evening, according to the Union Health Ministry.

The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 15,859, while 3,959 people have been cured and discharged, the ministry said, adding that one patient has migrated.

Meanwhile, the Union Cabinet approved Rs 15,000 crore for "India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package" for setting up dedicated treatment facilities and laboratories as part of an urgent response to contain the pandemic.

The Cabinet also approved an ordinance aimed at preventing violence against health workers after several cases of assaults on doctors were reported during the coronavirus outbreak.

Maharashtra, Gujarat report most deaths

Of the 49 deaths reported since Tuesday evening, 19 were from Maharashtra, 18 from Gujarat, four from Madhya Pradesh, three from West Bengal, two from Andhra Pradesh and one each from Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, the ministry said.

Of the total 652 deaths, Maharashtra tops the tally with 251, followed by Gujarat at 95, Madhya Pradesh at 80, Delhi at 47, Rajasthan at 25, Andhra Pradesh at 24 and Telangana at 23, according to the ministry.

The death toll reached 21 in Uttar Pradesh, 18 in Tamil Nadu while Karantaka has reported 17 cases.

Punjab has registered 16 deaths, while West Bengal has reported 15 fatalities due to coronavirus infection so far.

The disease has claimed five lives in Jammu and Kashmir, while Kerala, Jharkhand and Haryana have recorded three COVID-19 deaths each.

Bihar has reported two deaths, while Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and Assam have reported one fatality each, according to the ministry data.

According to the health ministry''s data updated in the evening, the highest number of confirmed cases in the country are from Maharashtra at 5,221, followed by Gujarat at 2,272, Delhi at 2,156, Rajasthan at 1,801, Tamil Nadu at 1,596 and Madhya Pradesh at 1,592.

The number of COVID-19 cases has gone up to 1,412 in Uttar Pradesh, 945 in Telangana and 813 in Andhra Pradesh.

The number of cases has risen to 427 in Kerala, 425 in Karnataka, 423 in West Bengal, 380 in Jammu and Kashmir, 254 in Haryana and 251 in Punjab.

Bihar has reported 126 coronavirus cases, while Odisha has 82.

Forty-six people have been infected with the virus in Uttarakhand while Jharkhand has 45 cases.

Himachal Pradesh has 39 cases, Chhattisgarh has 36, while Assam has registered 35 infections so far.

Chandigarh has 27 COVID-19 cases, Ladakh 18, while 17 cases have been reported from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Meghalaya has reported 12 cases, while Goa and Puducherry have seven COVID-19 patients each. Manipur and Tripura have two cases each, while Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh have reported a case each.

"Our figures are being reconciled with the ICMR," the ministry said on its website.

It further said that one case of Jharkhand has been reassigned to Bihar after reconciliation.

Cabinet approves ordinance making attacks on doctors non-bailable offence

The Union government proposed making attacks on health workers non-bailable with maximum punishment of seven years in jail and Rs 5 lakh fine.

Javadekar said a person can be sentenced to anywhere between three months and five years in jail, besides a fine between Rs 50,000 and Rs 2 lakh, for crimes against healthcare workers under the new provision. In cases where injuries are serious, the punishment will range from six months to seven years, and carry fine between Rs 1-5 lakhs, the minister told reporters.

"Our government has zero tolerance against violence and harassment targeting doctors, nurses, paramedics and ASHA workers when they are doing their best to fight the pandemic," Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said after a Union cabinet meeting.

It was not clear whether these provisions would continue even after the COVID-19 crisis.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) called off its proposed ''white alert'' and ''black day'' protests scheduled for 22 and 23 April following a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah through video conference on Wednesday. The doctors' body has been demanding that the Centre bring a law to protect healthcare workers from rising attacks at a time when they are battling COVID-19.

The Union Health Ministry also advised chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories to adopt adequate measures in ensuring the safety of health workers involved in COVID-19 services.

In a letter, Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan said amongst all professionals, the skills and services of these health workers place them in a unique position of saving lives.

Meanwhile, official sources told PTI that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with chief ministers via video conferencing on 27 April morning on the way ahead in the fight against coronavirus. This will be the third such video conference.

In the last interaction on 11 April, several chief ministers had recommended extension of the 21-day lockdown by two weeks, which was slated to end on 14 April earlier. Modi then extended it to 3 May.

Centre, West Bengal govt continue to be at loggerheads

A political stand-off continued between the BJP-headed Central Government and the Trinamool Congress-led government in West Bengal, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleging that the Centre had dispatched faulty testing kits to her state.

"Canards are being spread every day that only a few are getting tested in Bengal for COVID-19. This is absolutely false. Faulty kits were sent to Bengal which have now been withdrawn. We didn't even get adequate testing kits," she told a press conference.

The state government, however, assured it will abide by all the Central Government orders on the nationwide lockdown and said "it is not a fact" that it was not cooperating with the central team deputed to assess the COVID-19 situation in the West Bengal.

The assurance followed the Centre's allegation that the West Bengal government was obstructing the central team's work.

West Bengal has so far reported 15 deaths and 385 confirmed cases, though at least 79 people have been cured of COVID-19 in the state.

Rahul Gandhi seeks suggestions for MSME stimulus package

The Congress party on Wednesday has sought suggestions from the public on what a MSME economic stimulus package should cover. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweets, "COVID-19 has devastated our micro, small and medium businesses."

#COVID19 has devastated our micro, small & medium businesses (MSME). The Congress party needs your help. Send us suggestions & ideas for what a MSME economic stimulus package should cover on: https://t.co/kP2NZ6TNUK

or our social media platforms. #HelpSaveSmallBusinesses pic.twitter.com/UwLEPrnWdB

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 22, 2020

With inputs from agencies

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[yeskraim]

How India uses colonial-era sedition law against CAA protesters

New Delhi, India – In the first week of the new year, police in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand registered a criminal complaint against more than 3,000 people protesting against a new citizenship law, accusing them of “sedition” among other charges.

India has seen nationwide protests since mid-December following the passage of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) that activists and opposition politicians have described as divisive, discriminatory and against the country’s secular constitution. The new law is being challenged in the Supreme Court.

More:

In Jharkhand, a tribal assertion met with fierce police crackdown

Microsoft CEO Nadella criticises India’s citizenship law

UN report condemns Kashmir’s Public Safety Act

The sedition provision, which was drafted by the British colonial rulers in 1870, comes under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code.

Rights activists say the law has been used to suppress dissent in India particularly against marginalised communities and minorities.

Nationwide protests are taking place across India since December 13 against CAA [Javed Sultan/Anadolu]

Over the past 18 months, more than 10,000 tribal farmers in mineral-rich Jharkhand state were accused of sedition in 19 police cases for opposing acquisition of lands for so-called developmental projects.

Law is not meant to suppress people’s voice, but to create a sense of security among the people.

Hemant Soren, Chief Minister of Jharkhand state

Following criticism, Jharkhand’s newly elected Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced the withdrawal of sedition charges slapped by his predecessor belonging to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Soren told Al Jazeera that he had asked for an inquiry into why the police used the charge against those who peacefully demonstrated in Wasseypur – a working-class Muslim neighbourhood in Dhanbad district, which was the subject of the 2012 Bollywood hit Gangs of Wasseypur.

“Charge of sedition is a serious allegation which needs to be applied with careful scrutiny. In this case, we have asked the officials to drop the charges and provide an explanation.”

“Law is not meant to suppress people’s voice, but to create a sense of security among the people. My government will respect law and protect people,” said Soren, who comes from the Santhal tribal community.

Soren government has also dropped charges against more than 10,000 Adivasis slapped by the previous BJP government.

Attack on dissent

The sedition provision punishes anyone seen to “excite, or attempt to excite feelings of disaffection against the government”, even though this may be by their words alone. It is a non-bailable offence, and has life imprisonment as the maximum punishment.

Jawahar Raja, a lawyer based in New Delhi, explained that once police add the sedition charge, the maximum quantum of punishment increases, and the courts then view it as a serious offence, making it harder for the accused to secure bail, even if booked only for a speech offence. “The process of a long-drawn trial then becomes the punishment,” said Raja.

Aloka Kujur was among the more than 10,000 slapped with sedition cases in Jharkhand. She says “the police booked her under sedition for a Facebook post in 2018”.

Kujur, who publishes magazines on literature and art, said the police issued a warrant to confiscate her property for her post that mentioned the threat to a rape victim.

“I faced threats online. The local newspapers started publishing official statements saying that anyone with Marxist and Maoist books will be arrested. I had to give away my small collection of books, as I was unsure what will the police misconstrue against me using this sedition charge,” she said.

Police continue to misuse the provision even though the Supreme Court in 2016 said criticising the government does not amount to sedition [File: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters]

Kujur recounts how prosecution lawyers called her “anti-national” in the court during her trial.

In a similar case, an 83-year-old Jesuit priest, Stan Swamy, who has documented police abuse in tribal areas across the country, was charged with sedition in 2018 for his Facebook posts. One of his posts was a statement by the then home minister calling for dialogue.

Swamy declined to speak to Al Jazeera as he is facing police case in the western Maharashtra state. His associate Solomon said because of the sedition charge, the elderly activist was forced to stop writing on human rights abuses.

Our state governments are using colonial-era laws to suppress even peaceful dissent of our own people.

Sadaf Jafar, activist

Referring to the recent sedition cases, a senior Jharkhand police official admitted that the local police acted with excessive hostility against anti-CAA protesters.

“I cannot comment on use of sedition in previous cases against tribal farmers, but in this instance, the district police action shows a lack of knowledge and a lack of professional competence,” Anil Palta, additional director general of police (training), Jharkhand, told Al Jazeera.

“If a provision of prevention of assembly of more than four persons, Section 144 is violated, the protesters ought to have been booked under Section 188, for disobedience, a bailable order. It was very far-fetched of the district police to apply sedition charges.”

Harsh police action

The harsh police action against anti-CAA protesters particularly in BJP-ruled states has alarmed rights activists.

More than 20 people have been killed in India’s most populous state Uttar Pradesh (UP) where some of the initial protests turned violent. Authorities in the state have also said they would seek compensation from protesters for damages to state properties.

Sadaf Jafar, a political activist, was arrested from Lucknow, the capital of UP during anti-CAA protests.

“The police arrested me and imprisoned me for 20 days, I was not allowed to inform anyone,” Jafar told Al Jazeera.

“We are supposed to be in an elected democracy, but our state governments are using colonial-era laws to suppress even peaceful dissent of our own people.” 

Jafar alleged she was tortured and called Pakistani in custody because of her Muslim name. “They beat me so much that three weeks later, my ankles are still swollen and blue, and my limbs hurt when I breathe.”

Repeated cases of sedition show the police have been brainwashed to act like colonial masters.

Solomon, activist

Al Jazeera reached out to the office of the director general of police of UP and the circle officer of the area where Jafar was held but received no response at the time of the publication of the article.

Last December, about 600 anti-CAA protesters were accused of sedition in UP but later police dropped the charge.

Across India, a number of people have been slapped with sedition charges for protesting against the law that people say is part of Modi’s Hindu supremacist agenda as it makes faith as the basis for citizenship.

In the BJP-ruled Karnataka state, police invoked sedition case against a student for holding a “Free Kashmir” placard on January 9.

Last August, the Hindu nationalist government stripped Indian-administered Kashmir of its special status and imposed a crippling communications and security lockdown in the Muslim-majority region.

Subsequently, thousands of Kashmiris, including minors, were thrown into jails under Public Safety Act (PSA), which Amnesty International has dubbed “lawless law”. Under PSA people can be imprisoned for up to two years without trial.

Between 2016 and 2018, the National Crime Records Bureau data shows, 332 people were arrested under the sedition provision, but only seven were convicted.

Lawyers point out that the problem is not the conviction, but opposition to the government is termed “anti-national”, making it easier for the police to make arrests citing any protests as a threat to national security.

Governments exploit legal loopholes

Legal scholars pointed out that the police continue to misuse the provision even though the Supreme Court in 2016 reiterated that criticising the government does not amount to sedition, or even to defamation.

“Though the court upheld the Section 124A of sedition to be constitutional, it has watered down the provision,” said Chitranshul Mishra, a Supreme Court lawyer and author of The Great Repression – The Story of Sedition in India.

He added that the Supreme Court said only an action that incites or has the “tendency” to incite violence or public disorder can be construed as seditious. “But the definitions of ‘tendency’, ‘public disorder’ have been left open so wide to interpretation that the police routinely use it to suppress dissent,” he explained.

Gautam Bhatia, a lawyer and scholar, said colonial-era laws that criminalised any opposition has no place in a democracy.

In his book Offend, Shock or Disturb: Free Speech Under the Indian Constitution, Bhatia has documented how during India’s independence movement, the British colonial government had accused Indian nationalist leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, and cultural activists under the same section for their writings, speeches, and theatre plays.

“The sheer breadth of its language allows it to be misused,” said Bhatia.

“The police book thousands as ‘unnamed’ claiming they will add the names as they get further evidence, and as the case proceeds they are allowed to file supplementary charge-sheets in which they, for instance, can add names of any farmers from a village or a demonstrator or a political organiser, thus keeping a sword dangling over their heads to chill dissent.”

Modi, who has been accused of turning authoritarian, has plans to overhaul the Indian Penal Code, most of which draws from the British colonial laws. But it has caused concern among activists as the right-wing government may further add stringent provisions in the law.

It recently amended the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act to empower the government to declare individuals “terrorists” and seize their properties.

Rights activists fear the law can be misused – a charge the government has denied.

Solomon, the Jharkhand activist, told Al Jazeera: “Repeated cases of sedition show the police have been brainwashed to act like colonial masters.”

“The result is that the most vulnerable communities suffer.”

Read More

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Singhbhum Chamber Delegation Meets State DGP in Ranchi

Chamber discusses crucial issues including cybercrime and traffic management Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry delegation meets with DGP Anurag Gupta to address Jamshedpur’s pressing concerns. JAMSHEDPUR – A delegation from the Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry met with State DGP Anurag Gupta to discuss various issues affecting Jamshedpur. Led by President Vijay Anand Moonka,…

[zonechin48]

THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 10 JULY 2019 (Rising incidents of hate crimes point to the growing power of the lumpen (The Hindu))

Rising incidents of hate crimes point to the growing power of the lumpen (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 1: Society Prelims level: Hate Crimes Mains level: Rising hate crimes and its prevention

Context

There have been marked by hate crimes two Muslim men beaten by mobs in Jharkhand and Mumbai, demanding they shout ‘Jai Shri Ram’, one so mercilessly that he died.

Another man, a tribal, lynched in Tripura on suspicion of being a cattle thief.

Most recently, 24 men accused of being cattle smugglers, beaten and made to shout ‘Gau Mata ki Jai’, in Rajasthan.

A rising graph

Studies of hate crimes in India show that they have steadily risen over the past five years.

Amnesty International India documented 721 such incidents between 2015 and 2018.

Last year alone, it tracked 218 hate crimes, 142 of which were against Dalits, 50 against Muslims, 40 against women, and eight each against Christians, Adivasis, and transgenders.

The more common hate crimes, they found, were honour killings that have sadly occurred for decades and ‘cow-related violence’, that was rare earlier but has become more frequent over the past five years.

These facts are striking enough to concern any government.

The Prime Minister expressed pain at the sickening murder of Tabrez Ansari in Jharkhand, but clearly far more is required.

The Rajasthan administration is introducing a Bill prohibiting cow vigilantism, but that deals with only one hate crime.

An omnibus act against all hate crimes, including hate speech, is required across India and should be a priority of the 17th Lok Sabha.

Constitutional Provision

Germany, for example, amended Section 46 of its Criminal Procedure Code, dealing with sentencing in violent crime, to say the sentence must be based on consideration of ‘the motives and aims of the offender, particularly where they are of a racist or xenophobic nature or where they show contempt for human dignity’.

We have a number of sections in the Indian Penal Code that can be used to punish or even prevent hate crime, but they are disparate and few policemen are aware of them.

Those that are, fear to use them in areas whose political leaders mobilise through hate speech.

Though some Indian analysts debate whether there is a correlation between hate speech and hate crime, worldwide data show that hate speech encourages or legitimises acts of violence and a climate of impunity.

France has a draft Bill to prohibit hate speech, and Germany has already enacted one.

Court directives

In 2018, the Supreme Court directed Central and State governments to make it widely known that lynching and mob violence would ‘invite serious consequence under the law’ (Tehseen S. Poonawalla v. Union of India and Ors).

Then Home Minister Rajnath Singh told Parliament that the government had formed a panel to suggest measures to tackle mob violence, and would enact a law if necessary.

The panel’s recommendations are not in the public domain, and acts of hate crime do not appear to have diminished in the year since Mr. Singh’s promise.

In a May 2019 report, Human Rights Watch India pointed out that only some States had complied with the Supreme Court’s orders to designate a senior police officer in every district to prevent incidents of mob violence and ensure that the police take prompt action, including safety for witnesses; set up fast-track courts in such cases; and take action against policemen or officials who failed to comply.

Those State governments that did comply, the report commented, did so only partially. In several instances, the police actually obstructed investigations, even filing charges against the victims.

Whether it is political hate speech or police bias on the ground, there is little doubt that the national bar against hate crime has been lowered.

On television, we see replays of hate speech and videos of lynching.

Though the accompanying commentary is critical, repeated iterations normalise the hateful. Indeed, anchors themselves resort to invective far more often than before note how Kashmiris are routinely heckled and abused on talk shows.

The print media too is failing. Several newspapers now publish triumphalist opinion articles, including comments to articles that are hate speech by any definition.

Criticism of blatantly communal government actions such as extension of refuge and citizenship on religious identity has grown increasingly muted.

Key steps needed

One of the policy issues that is high on the Modi administration’s list is dealing with incitement to violence through social media.

But the focus is on hate in relation to terrorism, and it is unclear whether government policy will extend to cover hate crime.

Important as it is to do so, the digital media is not the only offender. In fact, there are several obvious steps which would be easier to take and yield more immediate results than regulation of the digital media.

Parliament could enact an omnibus act against hate crime, and the Home Minister could set benchmarks for policemen and administrators to deal with hate crime.

The legislature and political parties could suspend or dismiss members who are implicated in hate crimes or practise hate speech.

The electronic and print media could stop showing or publishing hateful comments and threats.

Priests could preach the values of tolerance and respect that are common to all religions and schools could revitalise courses on the directive principles of our Constitution.

Way forward

For a demographically diverse country such as India, hate crimes — including crimes of contempt — are a disaster.

Each of our religious and caste communities number in the millions, and crimes that are directed against any of these groups could result in a magnitude of disaffection that impels violence, even terrorism.

Far less diverse countries than India are already suffering the result of hate ‘moving into the mainstream’, as UN Secretary General António Guterres recently highlighted.

We can still contain its spread if we act resolutely. Or else our political leaders might find the lumpen tail wagging their dog.

Prelims Questions:

Q.1) With reference to the short duration discussion, Rajya Sabah, consider the following statements: 1. The Chairman decides the admissibility of the notice. 2. There is no formal motion before the House nor is there any voting but the member who raises the discussion has the right of reply.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? A. 1 only B. 2 only C. Both D. None

Answer: A Mains Questions: Q.1) The national bar against hate crime has been lowered, but resolute corrective action is possible. Critically analyse.

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Source: https://iasexamportal.com/editorial-gist/10-07-2019-rising-incidents-of-hate-crimes-point-to-the-growing-power-of-the-lumpen-the-hindu