
'Armed cadres' from Myanmar tried to disturb border fencing work: Forces tell Centre after Manipur Op
"Armed cadres" belonging to the Myanmar-based People's Defence Force illegally crossed the border and tried to disturb the Border Roads Task Force (BRTF) personnel, who were engaged in the fencing work.

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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Rs 9 crore lost to 21 digital arrest scams in Jan-May this year
1 2 3 Pune: Police recorded 21 digital arrest scams between Jan and May this year in which the victims lost Rs 9.21 crore. In Nov last year, a top executive of a Mumbai-based software company lodged a complaint with the Pune cyber police, stating that online fraudsters posing as CBI officials, digitally arrested him in a money laundering case, and extorted Rs6.30 crore from him. During investigations, Pune cyber police nabbed a mule account holder Tushar Harischandra Wajantri (28), a resident of Roha in Raigad district. His wife is a sarpanch of the village. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) started a ringtone in Jan this year, alerting citizens not to fall prey to online scamsters, especially those involving digital arrests. Despite this ringtone and awareness by the cyber police, cases of digital arrest are being reported regularly. Last year, police recorded 81 cases of digital arrests in which victims were cheated out of Rs49.76 crore by fraudsters. "Despite all the awareness measures, cases are being reported regularly. However, the number of such cases has reduced," said senior inspector Swapnali Shinde of Pune cyber police. Of the 21 cases between Jan and May this year, 16 were registered by local police stations, while five were recorded by Pune cyber police station. Last year, 16 cases were registered by the cyber police station, while local police stations registered 65 cases. Police did not register a single complaint in 2023. "Last year, Rs 6.3 crore was the highest amount lost by an individual to fraudsters. Then, we received complaints in which the victims were duped of Rs 30 lakh to Rs 60 lakh. In most of these cases, elderly couples or individuals from Deccan, Bund Garden Road, Vimannagar, and Sahanagar were the victims," Shinde said. "With suspects using mule accounts and virtual private networks, it has become difficult to investigate such cases," she said. "If the prime mule account operators are arrested by the police, it will deter others from giving their bank accounts to fraudsters who are mostly based in foreign countries like Dubai or Cambodia," Shinde said. Sandip Gadiya, a cybercrime investigator & cyber forensic expert, said, "Fraudsters play with the sentiments of people in four ways, capitalising on fear, greed, lack of awareness, and carelessness of the victims. And these factors contribute to cyber crimes." He said, "Digital arrest fraud cases are based on fear factor in which a person is put in fear of arrest and jail, and money is extorted from him by fraudsters posing as officials of Enforcement Directorate, CBI, and police." "Though the number of digital arrest cases has reduced, the effectiveness of awareness campaign has been minimum because people do not care about frauds, thinking that these will not happen to them," Gadiya said. "Banks and telecom companies must do KYC checks of their customers properly, and if done thoroughly, the nuisance of mule bank accounts will reduce," he said. "Suspects use virtual private networks (VPNs) to make digital calls or calls through video call-making applications. The govt must keep a check on VPNs. Investigations take too long because of VPNs," he said. Year - No of cases - Amount 2023 - Nil - Nil 2024 - 81 - Rs 49.76 crores 2025 - 21 - Rs 9.21 crores (Till May end) MSID:: 121646160 413 | Pune: Police recorded 21 digital arrest scams between Jan and May this year in which the victims lost Rs 9.21 crore. In Nov last year, a top executive of a Mumbai-based software company lodged a complaint with the Pune cyber police, stating that online fraudsters posing as CBI officials, digitally arrested him in a money laundering case, and extorted Rs6.30 crore from him. During investigations, Pune cyber police nabbed a mule account holder Tushar Harischandra Wajantri (28), a resident of Roha in Raigad district. His wife is a sarpanch of the village. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) started a ringtone in Jan this year, alerting citizens not to fall prey to online scamsters, especially those involving digital arrests. Despite this ringtone and awareness by the cyber police, cases of digital arrest are being reported regularly. Last year, police recorded 81 cases of digital arrests in which victims were cheated out of Rs49.76 crore by fraudsters. "Despite all the awareness measures, cases are being reported regularly. However, the number of such cases has reduced," said senior inspector Swapnali Shinde of Pune cyber police. Of the 21 cases between Jan and May this year, 16 were registered by local police stations, while five were recorded by Pune cyber police station. Last year, 16 cases were registered by the cyber police station, while local police stations registered 65 cases. Police did not register a single complaint in 2023. "Last year, Rs 6.3 crore was the highest amount lost by an individual to fraudsters. Then, we received complaints in which the victims were duped of Rs 30 lakh to Rs 60 lakh. In most of these cases, elderly couples or individuals from Deccan, Bund Garden Road, Vimannagar, and Sahanagar were the victims," Shinde said. "With suspects using mule accounts and virtual private networks, it has become difficult to investigate such cases," she said. "If the prime mule account operators are arrested by the police, it will deter others from giving their bank accounts to fraudsters who are mostly based in foreign countries like Dubai or Cambodia," Shinde said. Sandip Gadiya, a cybercrime investigator & cyber forensic expert, said, "Fraudsters play with the sentiments of people in four ways, capitalising on fear, greed, lack of awareness, and carelessness of the victims. And these factors contribute to cyber crimes." He said, "Digital arrest fraud cases are based on fear factor in which a person is put in fear of arrest and jail, and money is extorted from him by fraudsters posing as officials of Enforcement Directorate, CBI, and police." "Though the number of digital arrest cases has reduced, the effectiveness of awareness campaign has been minimum because people do not care about frauds, thinking that these will not happen to them," Gadiya said. "Banks and telecom companies must do KYC checks of their customers properly, and if done thoroughly, the nuisance of mule bank accounts will reduce," he said. "Suspects use virtual private networks (VPNs) to make digital calls or calls through video call-making applications. The govt must keep a check on VPNs. Investigations take too long because of VPNs," he said. Year - No of cases - Amount 2023 - Nil - Nil 2024 - 81 - Rs 49.76 crores 2025 - 21 - Rs 9.21 crores (Till May end) MSID:: 121646160 413 |


Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Tensions in Manipur over arrest rumours of volunteers of Meitei outfit
Two journalists and a civilian were injured as tensions flared in Imphal city late on Saturday evening following unconfirmed reports of the arrest of five volunteers of Arambai Tenggol, a Meitei group, including one of the group's commanders, people familiar with the matter said. An irate mob stormed the Kwakeithel Police Outpost in Imphal West, demanding the immediate release of the arrested individuals. In response, security forces fired several rounds to disperse the crowd. During the incident, at least three people, including two journalists, sustained injuries. According to unconfirmed reports, the arrests were made at around 2.30pm by a team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba was also seen at the scene, attempting to speak with senior security personnel regarding the situation. In a purported video circulated on social media groups, Leishemba could be heard saying, 'We tried very hard to bring peace. If you do such things, how will peace come? Arrest me along with the MLA....' There was not official statement from the Manipur police till the time of going to press. ALSO READ | Union Home secretary discusses border fencing, law & order situation with Manipur Governor Separately, officials in New Delhi said that the Union home ministry representatives will hold a meeting with representatives of Kuki-Zo militant groups, who are signatories to the Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact with the Centre. They are expected to meet in the national capital on Monday. This is the first general meeting since the pact was put in abeyance last year. While there was no confirmation from the MHA or the Manipur-based groups, a person aware of the details said all representatives from SoO will attend the meeting. 'All representatives from the SoO groups will be in Delhi. This is the first general meeting called by the MHA. We do not know if Manipur state administration officials will be present or not. It was a tripartite agreement between our groups, state government and Centre to suspend all operations from both sides,' this person said requesting anonymity. The tripartite SoO agreement was signed by the Centre, the Manipur government and Kuki militant groups in August 2008, and was renewed every year until February 28 last year when it was kept abeyance. The renewal process was halted after allegations against SoO group cadres indulging in the ethnic clashes in Manipur and training village defence volunteers — the groups have denied both charges. The person cited above said that over the last year, SoO groups have addressed some queries raised by the MHA. 'The ground rules for the pact were set to be revised so MHA has asked SoO groups many questions. All these were presented to the MHA. We expect something positive from the meeting,' the official added. The questions pertained to location of camps, the weapons that are in a double lock system and the need for having new camps. ALSO READ | Protest over 'Manipur' name removal on govt bus; Police fire tear gas, 8 injured While former chief minister N Biren Singh and his MLAs have demanded that the SoO agreement be cancelled, Kuki-Zo groups and their legislators have requested Centre to renew the pact. At the time of the signing of agreement in 2008, the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People's Front (UPF) agreed to cease any form of violence. The central and state governments also agreed that no force (army, paramilitary, or state police) would launch operations against the signatories as long as they abide by the terms of the agreement. However, the SoO was unilaterally suspended by the Biren Singh government on March 2023 — roughly two months before the ethnic clashes broke out — saying that some members of the groups were illegal migrants. The suspension, along with a Manipur high court order that directed the state to ensure Meiteis get the scheduled tribes status, are believed to be triggers for the violence that has roiled the state for over two years. A senior security official, who asked not to be named, said, 'Agencies have regularly given reports about the SoO groups. There have been cases of SoO militants being arrested in some cases of violence during the last two years. It is a critical issue. Whatever happens to the SoO pact will definitely have an impact in Manipur. They are influential and have a lot of clout among not just Kuki-Zo civilians but also their political leaders.' The earlier rules of the SoO pact directed cadres of the militant groups to stay in designated camps, with the routine administration of camps being handled by the groups. The rules also mandated that no more than 20% of cadres will be allowed to leave the camp at any given time. State government and joint monitoring group (JMG) members were to conduct inspections at the camp to check for violations. All weapons were to be held within the camp's armoury in a double locking system, with one key being with the group and other with the concerned security force.


Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Cop at Bopdev Ghat help centre extorts Rs 28,000 from youths
Pune: Kondhwa police on Saturday filed a complaint against a constable and his friend for assaulting a youth from Chennai and his friends, who came to Bopdev Ghat for photography, and extorting Rs 28,000 on the pretext of filing a case against them. The incident occurred between 7 am and 9 am on June 5. The constable posted at Bopdev Ghat help centre was later suspended. Senior inspector Vinayak Patankar said, "We have served notices to constable Vikram Wadtile and his friend Kedar Jadhav, directing them to join the police in the investigation because they were charged with offences punishable up to seven years." Patankar said the 19-year-old Chennai-based youth, who is the complainant in the case, visited Pune to meet his grandparents. On June 5, the youth and his two friends visited Bopdev Ghat to take photographs and took a hookah pot with them. After a recent gang-rape incident involving a 20-year-old event management student at Bopdev Ghat, a police help centre had been set up there. Wadtile was stationed at the help centre. According to Patankar, "Wadtile questioned the youth and his two friends and searched their bag, where he found the hookah pot. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo He assaulted them and threatened to register a criminal case even though the victims tried to convince him that the hookah pot was meant to be used as a sprop during shooting of photos. Wadtile then took them to the Kondhwa police station." The police officer said, "At the entrance of the police station, Wadtile stopped the vehicle and told the youths that they would be taken to Sassoon General Hospital for a medical examination and their future would be ruined." He initially demanded Rs 25,000 from each of them. When they said they didn't have that much money, they agreed to settle by transferring Rs 28,000 online to Kedar Jadhav's account. After receiving the money, Wadtile let them go. " The complainant grew suspicious and came to the police station to verify whether Wadtile was indeed a policeman. "He informed me about the incident. The youth did not know Wadtile's name but described his physical appearance. I conducted an inquiry, which revealed that Wadtile indeed threatened and extorted money from the youths. After the extortion case was registered, Wadtile and Jadhav returned Rs 28,000 to the youth," the officer said. Deputy commissioner of police (Zone V) Rajkumar Shinde suspended Wadtile pending departmental inquiry. He said that the cop had been held responsible for tarnishing the image of the police department due to his actions.