Latest news with #Meena
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
2 held for ‘renting out' accounts to cyber scammers for commission
Bhubaneswar: Cyber police in the city arrested two men on Sunday for allegedly 'renting out' their bank accounts to scammers to allow them to park illegally obtained money in return for 2% commission on each transaction processed through their accounts. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Police identified the accused as Prasana Behera (44), a school dropout from Bhubaneswar, and Rahul Pradhan (24), a science graduate from Cuttack. Police said the accused willingly permitted fraudsters to operate their accounts for financial gain, unlike typical cases where cyber criminals exploit personal details of victims to create mule bank accounts without their consent or knowledge. The fraudulent operation came to the light following a complaint lodged by Milan Kumar Beura from Bhubaneswar, who on May 7 reported losing Rs 12 lakh to scammers who promised 7% monthly interest in an investment scheme. Police investigation revealed that the cybercrime gang acquired over 100 bank accounts from people across Odisha, Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Telangana, Bihar, Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir and Karnataka. Recent months saw transfers exceeding Rs 1.34 crore to the accounts, police officers said. DCP Jagmohan Meena said that the accused connived with cyber criminals operating discreetly in different locations in the country and abroad. "They agreed to provide their accounts for illegal activities and lured unemployed individuals by offering quick money through account rental service," Meena said. The police said that while the accused claimed innocence and blamed unidentified cyber criminals, they are equally culpable in the crimes. "They are partners in cyber crimes. Bank accounts and pre-activated SIM cards are two crucial tools or weapons of offence in a cyber crime. Controlling these elements would help reduce cybercrime cases. We will take stringent action against people renting out their bank accounts to cyber criminals," said Meena, adding, "Mobile phone shops, telecom operators or SIM distributors will be arrested if their negligence led to sale of pre-activated SIMs. " Police seized 24 cheque books, 8 passbooks, 4 mobile phones, a laptop, 27 debit cards, a credit card and 6 PAN cards from the accused.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Pretty lizzie dares the Thar noon
Only those as mad as a hatter would venture into the noon / afternoon heat of the Thar desert for a foodie binge. But for the Brilliant Ground agama (Trapelius / Agama agilis Olivier), a lesser known lizard and commonly confounded by locals with a girgit/korkirla (Garden lizard), the inferno of the desert is best suited for predation on insects and its own safety. This is precisely the time, as the wise lizard knows, the avian hunters such as falcons, hawks and eagles will have beaten a retreat to a shady 'thikana'. Insects, too, are active at this infernal time in the native flora of the Thar: Kheep, Ber, Jaal, Kumbat, Aak etc. Insects feed on foliage and lay eggs, and in turn are gobbled by the 'lizards who duel at high noon'. The lizard is a burrowing species, with the female adapted to dig into the soil for nesting and protection while the male simply slithers under the Thar rocks. 'In summer, male lizards always stay in the open. As temperatures can rise to 55°C, male lizards also get affected by the heat but they counter the onslaught by changing into beautiful colours, which are known to be less absorbent of debilitating sun rays. To humans, it may appear that the lizard has turned magically into a gorgeous creature but the stark colouration changes are critical for survival. So, the head and abdomen changes from the standard dull brown, sandy colour into a vivid blue peppered with white spots while the tail turns yellowish-orange. The male's entire lower surface turns white,' principal of the SBK Government PG College, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, and professor of zoology, Shyam Sunder Meena, told this writer. Meena was the first to venture into the field and study this neglected species of the Thar, resulting in a research paper: Sexual Selection and Sexual Dimorphism in Agama agilis. 'To further cut down on heat absorption, male lizards alternatively move their legs up and down to minimise contact with the warm surface. They also select perches on foliage which are 6-9 feet above the hot earth,' Meena added. The monsoons tail this cuckoo The very early advent of the monsoons this year has manifested itself in avian form. The Pied or Jacobin cuckoo, which is partly a resident species as also a summer migrant from Africa, has been spotted pretty early. The cuckoo migrates to the northern regions of India to lay eggs surreptitiously in the nests of other birds, especially the Turdoides babblers. Cuckoo chicks are then reared by surrogate babbler parents in what is known as 'brood parasitism'. A very early record for Punjab came on May 24, 2025, when birder Manish Ahuja spotted a cuckoo on a power transmission wire just outside Ferozepur. This writer heard a cuckoo late at night the next day in Sector 19 A, Chandigarh. The earliest record for the cuckoo as far as the tricity is concerned is May 23, 2009, when this writer observed one at the 16th hole of the Shivalik Golf Club (SEPTA), Chandimandir. Ebird India, which collates data on avian sightings, shows an unusual record. Samay Srivastava recorded a migrating cuckoo at the Jalvayu Towers Society, Gurugram, on May 1, 2025! Ebird also shows cuckoo records of May 18 and May 23, 2025, from Uttarakhand. The migratory component of the cuckoos is adept at harnessing monsoon winds blowing from the Horn of Africa to migrate 1,500-2,000 km to the Indian coastline and then fly further inland. The pattern that seems to come across is that the monsoon winds come in from the south west but the rains spread southeast to northwest in India. The cuckoos come in with the winds but then spread over India with the rains, southeast to northwest. Due to the cuckoo's augury of the impending monsoon, the bird enjoys cultural resonance, including a reference in Kalidas' Meghdoot as the 'Chataka': '(O cloud) the wind will be favourable, Slow and soft for thee and waft thee ahead, Close on thy left, The Chataka or the Rain lark, Will sing sweetly.' vjswild2@
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Farmers urge min to act against sale of fake seeds
1 2 Jaipur: Farmers Saturday urged agriculture department and its minister Kirori Lal Meena to address large-scale sale of fake and substandard seeds in the market. The move comes after Meena made surprise inspections at several factories producing spurious fertilisers in the last two days. Farmers said that there is no mechanism to act against traders selling poor quality seeds. The agriculture minister said, "Yes, this too is on my mind. This has been a big problem along with the supply and sale of spurious fertilisers. Let me assure the farmers that I will very soon start a campaign against the fake seeds. I believe supplying fake seeds to the farmers is like killing them since a farmer only knows that seeds are fake after working hard on his farm for almost a month. He feels cheated. I know the pain," the minister added. Farmers from Banswara, Dungarpur, Sirohi, Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh districts complained that in almost every season of Rabi and Kharif, they are deceived by poor quality seeds. "I bought 10 packets of cucumber seed, each packet costing Rs 6,000. Usually, cucumber comes out in a period of 30 days. But I was deceived as the plant grew, and no cucumber came. I went to the trader who sold it to me, and he paid no heed to my problem. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Откриване на нов магазин, супер 2-в-1 таблет: 50% отстъпка HL Купете сега Undo This is a big problem, and I would like the department of agriculture to take up this issue," said Suresh Chaudhary of Sargoth village near Sikar. Similarly, farmers complained that there are fake seeds of wheat, barley, millets, vegetables and almost every crop. "We plough the farm, put seeds, and work hard on them in the hope of harvesting the crop. However, many times we get cheated. This has been a big problem and neither the police nor any other authority takes action against the makers and sellers of these fake seeds," said Harnesk Singh of Bhagsar village of Sriganganagar. "I visited the local office of agriculture to complain after I got the fake seeds of mustard, but I got no response. By the time we realise that seeds are fake, the season of a particular crop we sowed got over," said Khushi Ram Chaudhary, a farmer from Sultana village in Jhunjhunu.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Paramedical staff strike work over parking at JK Lon hosp
Jaipur: A dispute over parking facilities at the government-run JK Lon Children's Hospital led to a three-hour work stoppage on Saturday, temporarily disrupting medical services before being resolved through administrative intervention. The strike led to a complete work stoppage across outpatient departments, laboratories and several wards, although essential emergency services continued to function. The conflict arose from the perceived inequity in the allocation of covered parking spaces at the hospital. Paramedical workers alleged that the sheltered parking was being exclusively reserved for doctors, forcing them to leave their vehicles exposed to harsh sunlight. The situation deteriorated on Saturday when the last remaining covered area for two-wheeler parking was allegedly reassigned for doctors' vehicles, prompting nurses, laboratory technicians and other staff to cease work and stage a protest. Kailash Meena, the medical superintendent of JK Lon Hospital, stated that the hospital administration took immediate action to ensure minimal disruption to patient care. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo "They (nurses) went on strike without any notice at 9am but, by making alternate arrangements, we ensured that patients did not suffer. We held talks with the agitating nurses and they resumed their work at 12noon," Meena said. The hospital has been grappling with a parking crisis due to a surge in the number of vehicles, which has increased alongside the upgrading of healthcare facilities, including new wards and ICUs. Despite the growing demand for parking, the available space remains unchanged. In response to the ongoing parking challenges, Meena detailed the administration's plans. "We are aware of the problem and are taking immediate measures. We have roped in the Public Works Department to develop a covered parking lot, for which the work order has already been issued," said Meena. "Additionally, we have prepared a proposal for constructing an underground parking facility, which is projected to cost Rs 30 crore. This project aims to provide a long-term solution to our parking issues," the hospital superintendent said.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Min's inspection exposes fake fertiliser trade and legal gaps
1 2 Jaipur: Agriculture minister Kirori Lal Meena conducted inspections targeting fake fertiliser units Ajmer and Jaipur for the second consecutive day Friday. During inspections at various locations, several factories were found shut with spilt fertiliser visible outside their premises. The minister acknowledged the absence of stringent legislation to combat this illegal practice. Nevertheless, he emphasised that regular raids and heightened vigilance could serve as effective deterrents against such activities in the fertiliser trade. Meena, along with his team, searched various factories at Kishangarh, Ajmer, and its surrounding areas, as well as in some of the outskirts of Jaipur. According to Meena, 34 factories were identified, and he asked the authorities to seal these factories. Also, 12 FIRs were lodged against the malpractice in this trade of fake fertiliser. "This is a big scam as from Ajmer I found that these fertilisers are also being sent to other states across the country. I instructed the police and agriculture department officials to ensure action under the Fertiliser Act and also to investigate who the real owners of these factories are," Meena said while talking to TOI. Meena admitted that usually, in these cases, there is a scope of Istegasa (legal complaint) and a lack of stringent laws against it. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo "Despite this, I will continue monitoring and fix accountability of my officers. Also, similar raids will continue from my side. I believe regular raids and heightened vigilance could serve as effective deterrents against such fraudulent activities in the fertiliser trade," he added. "Inka Nuksaan hoga Darr Baithega to band karna padega (If they [factory owners] get losses and are intimidated, they will have to stop manufacturing these fertilisers)," he added. On the allegations of PCC Chief Govind Singh Dotasara, Meena said that Union Minister Bhagirath Chaudhary has nothing to do with this action. "He is totally unaware of such factories. He is a farmer and was totally unaware," Meena added.
