Latest news with #Dilshad
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Delhi police bust pan-India cybercrime syndicate
The Delhi police have dismantled a pan-India cybercrime syndicate involved in large-scale banking frauds, whose network was operating through multiple verticals, including fake loan call centres and an orchestrated sextortion racket. A senior police officer said the racket comprised social media profile analysts, extortion callers, and individuals impersonating as police officers to intimidate victims with false legal threats unless they complied with extortion demands. Police received a tip-off on May 24 regarding the movement of a consignment— suspected to contain synthetic bank account kits — around New Ashok Nagar. These kits were reportedly being used in various high-tech crimes such as sextortion, cyberfraud, banking scams, debit/credit card cloning, etc., crimes that have seen a recent surge both in frequency and sophistication. 'Police intelligence revealed that the kits were to be delivered and distributed near Mayur Vihar Phase-1 Extension. Based on the severity of the crimes associated with such kits, teams were formed to arrest the accused,' police said. Three accused — Ujjawal Pandey, 30, Gaurav Barua, 24, and Yug Sharma, 19 — were arrested. Synthetic bank account kits and other relevant digital and financial paraphernalia, which included pre-activated SIM cards, forged bank documents, debit/credit cards linked to dummy or fraudulent accounts, and mobile devices for real-time transaction control, were seized from them. These items collectively formed what is termed a 'synthetic financial identity', allowing cybercriminals to operate untraceable, modular shadow banking systems. By combining communication channels with financial tools, fraudsters could bypass basic KYC and transaction verification mechanisms, enabling seamless control over fraudulent banking activities. Once prepared, these kits were sold to or distributed among cybercrime networks operating across different scams. 7 held post-raid A raid was conducted at the instance of the accused persons, that led the police to a fraudulent operation functioning around Mundka, where seven individuals were arrested. Among the arrested individuals, Dilshad Ali emerged as a key operative. Investigations revealed that Dilshad, along with his associate Amit, who is absconding, was running a fake bank loan provider call centre. Dilshad acted as the team leader, while Amit is identified as the owner of the operation. Amit's role involved the procurement and facilitation of fraudulent bank accounts and fake SIM cards, which were further handed over to Dilshad for use in the scam. The modus operandi of the call centre was to defraud individuals by offering fake bank loans. Initially, telemarketers under Dilshad's direction contacted potential victims, offering them attractive loan deals. Upon gaining the victim's trust, the telemarketer would request identification and other personal documents via WhatsApp. The victim was then asked to make a payment through a QR code scanner, under the pretext of file processing fees. After the payment was received, the victim's follow-up messages and calls were ignored. The fraudsters would then switch off their mobile devices and change their contact numbers, effectively cutting off all communication, police said. Meanwhile, for the second fraud, police said, the individuals employed a deceitful method to lure and exploit victims. Initially, they would send friend requests on Facebook and obtain the victim's mobile number through Facebook Messenger. Subsequently, they would initiate a video call on WhatsApp, during which they would stream pornographic clips, secretly recording the victim's screen and reactions using screen recording tools. The recorded content was then used to blackmail the victim under threats of publicly circulating the video on social media platforms, thereby coercing them into transferring money.
Hindustan Times
08-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
UP man, 20, arrested for putting Pak flag as display picture on WhatsApp
The Uttar Pradesh Police on Thursday arrested a 20-year-old man in Meerut for displaying the Pakistan flag as his WhatsApp display picture. The arrested accused has been identified as Dilshad. According to the PTI report, he is a resident of Rakanpur village, which is within the Bhawanpur police station limits. The cops took Dilshad into custody on Wednesday, when local residents took up the matter with the police who were present in the village for a mock drill. "Upon inspection of the accused's mobile phone, it was discovered that his WhatsApp display picture featured the picture of a woman holding the Pakistan flag. This reportedly created a tense atmosphere within the village," Bhawanpur station house officer Kuldeep Singh told PTI. Police said a case has been registered against the accused, and he has been arrested. A blue-coloured mobile phone was seized from his possession. In view of the escalating tensions along the India-Pakistan border after India's counteroffensive in response to the Pahalgam attack, the Meerut district administration has taken up a series of emergency preparedness measures. From health services to transport logistics and public safety, multiple departments have been placed on high alert to ensure swift response in case of any untoward incident, officials said. Chief medical officer (CMO) Dr Ashok Kataria has directed all registered private hospitals in the district to reserve a minimum of 10 beds for potential emergency cases. 'Given the growing tension between India and Pakistan, we are taking proactive steps to ensure readiness. All private hospitals have been instructed to ensure availability of essential medicines and medical equipment,' Dr Kataria said. With national security concerns mounting, local law enforcement authorities have launched a vigilance campaign. As part of heightened security measures, police deployment is being planned to monitor suspicious activities. Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Dr Vipin Tada has issued instructions for strict checks at all sensitive locations.
Observer
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Observer
'Dilshad' to be translated in English
Muscat: An Omani author who is very much in the news at the 29th Muscat International Book Fair is Bushra Khalfan. Her novels have always been well received because of the quality of writing and the in-depth historical details of the Omani society. Bushra is an Omani short story writer and novelist. She has been in the field of writing for 25 years. Bushra's award-winning 'Dilshad' traces the story of one family through 20th-century Oman. The narration throws light on the untold stories of marginalised women. Her book titled 'Dilshad: The Biography of Hunger and Satiety' (2021) won her the Arabic Novel Award during the eighth edition of the award of the Cultural Village Foundation in Qatar, titled Katara Prize, in 2022. The plot revolves around the young native of Muscat, Dilshad. The story is based during the first half of the 20th century. The 2024 volume is called 'Dilshad: Chronicle of Blood and Gold.' It builds on the success of the first book. Qantara de writes, "Across the nearly 1000 pages in Arabic, the novel introduces over a hundred characters, each with unique linguistic, historical, educational and social backgrounds. These characters are vividly portrayed through the interconnected stories of Dilshad, his daughter Mariyam and his granddaughter Fareeda. It is a story of struggles people face in lives for livelihood and to find a footing in the society, as is seen in Mariyam's life as she goes on to have her own business in Muttrah Souq. 'Dilshad' to be translated in English Earlier, Asghar Ali Karni, Iranian writer and translator, had said that Buhra Khalfan's book, Dilshad has been translated into Persian. At the Muscat International Book Fair 2025, Alice Guthrie, a British translator, editor, curator and event producer specialising in contemporary Arabic literature and media, was a guest speaker. She is in the process of translating Bushra Khalfan's novel into English for the publication of the book in the United States. The publication in English is scheduled for 2027. Speaking to Observer, she said, 'I am having a wonderful time translating it. All the historical details are fantastic: the characters, the linguistic diversity and all the wonderful secrets of Oman." Guthrie had read the book when it won the Katara prize in 2022. The book was also shortlisted in the same year for the International Prize in Arabic Fiction. "I thought it was all interesting; I was coming to Oman anyway and so I got in touch with her; and she was friendly and welcoming. Eventually, we were lucky to have the funding from the Ministry of Information. And now we are in the process of translation," said Guthrie. Alice Guthrie's translation of Gazan writer Atef Abu Saif's story, The Lottery, won the Jules Chametsky translation prize from the Massachusetts Review in 2019.
Express Tribune
13-04-2025
- Express Tribune
Eight Pak mechanics gunned down in Iran
Listen to article In a tragic incident, eight Pakistani motor mechanics were shot dead in Iran's Sistan province near the Pakistan-Iran border. All victims hailed from the Bahawalpur district and were employed at a local workshop specialising in painting, polishing and vehicle repair. The deceased were identified as Dilshad, his son Naeem, Jaffer, Danish, Nasir and others. According to local sources, unidentified assailants stormed the workshop during the night, tied the hands of the mechanics and opened fire, killing them on the spot. Iranian security forces cordoned off the area and recovered the bodies. The attackers remain unidentified. However, no group has yet claimed responsibility for the killing. Initial reports suggest that the attack may have been carried out by an anti-Pakistan terrorist group. Iranian authorities have launched an investigation into the harrowing incident, but no arrests have been made thus far. Officials from the Pakistan Embassy in Tehran reached the site to identify the victims and gather more information. A spokesperson for the embassy confirmed that they are in constant contact with Iranian authorities and assured that every effort would be made to secure justice for the victims' families. It is worth noting that a similar attack occurred in January 2024, when nine Pakistani labourers were killed in Sistan province by unknown assailants.
Express Tribune
12-04-2025
- Express Tribune
Eight Pakistani workers killed in attack in southeast Iran
Eight Pakistani citizens were brutally killed in Iran's southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province, Iranian and Pakistani officials said Saturday, in what has been described as a shocking act of violence near the two countries' shared border. The victims, all hailing from Bahawalpur district in Pakistan's Punjab province, were working at an automobile workshop in the remote village of Hazerabad in Mehrestan district, where they carried out vehicle painting, polishing, and repair work. Among the deceased were Dilshad, his son Naeem, and others identified as Jafar, Danish, and Nasir. According to local sources, the victims were found with their hands and feet tied and had been shot dead at close range. The attack reportedly occurred during the night when unidentified assailants stormed the workshop and opened fire indiscriminately, killing all eight men on the spot. Iranian security forces cordoned off the area and recovered the bodies. Authorities have launched an investigation, but no arrests have been made and the perpetrators remain unidentified. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. However, preliminary reports suggest the involvement of an anti-Pakistan militant organization operating in the border region. The Pakistani embassy in Tehran confirmed that its representatives have reached the site to assist in identifying the bodies and gathering further information. "We are in continuous contact with Iranian authorities," a spokesperson for the Pakistani embassy in Tehran said. "All possible steps will be taken to support the affected families and ensure justice is served." Pakistani labourers are commonly employed in Iran's border regions, particularly in vehicle repair and agriculture. However, the latest killings have raised fresh concerns over the safety of foreign workers in the country's restive eastern provinces. This is not the first time such an incident has occurred in the region. In January last year, nine Pakistani nationals were killed by unidentified gunmen in Saravan, another town in Sistan-Baluchestan. According to Iran's Mehr news agency, the attackers entered a residence in the Sirkan neighbourhood and opened fire, killing nine and injuring three others before fleeing the scene. The province's deputy governor, Alireza Marhamati, confirmed the details, citing survivors' accounts of three armed assailants carrying out the attack. Pakistan's ambassador to Tehran, Muhammad Mudassir Tipu, expressed deep shock at the time, calling the killings 'horrifying' in a post on X (formerly Twitter). The recurring violence underscores the growing insecurity in Iran's eastern regions, where ethnic tensions, smuggling networks, and militant activity have contributed to instability and frequent cross-border concerns.
