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The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
79th I-Day celebrations at Manekshaw Parade Ground to feature 35 police contingents
The 79th Independence Day will be celebrated at the Field Marshal Manekshaw parade ground in the heart of the city on Friday, with 1,150 members of 35 police force contingents taking part in the ceremonial parade. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will hoist the flag at 9 a.m., receive the salute, and later address the crowd. The event will witness a performance by 650 children commemorating the women from Karnataka who took part in the freedom struggle, according to a press release by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). As many as 500 students of Seshadripuram Pre-University College will stage a performance depicting five guarantees of the Congress government, and 253 members of the Karnataka police will participate in a mass band. The 35 contingents taking part in the parade include the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP), the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the City Armed Reserve (CAR), the Goa police, the Karnataka State Industrial Security Force (KSISF), the traffic police, the women police, the Home Guards, the traffic wardens, the Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Services (KSFES), the canine squad, and a band squad. The Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner's office has started issuing free passes for the programme on the Seva Sindhu portal. As many as 3,000 passes will be issued, among which 100 have been issued already. Physical passes can also be collected at the Assistant Commissioner's and the Deputy Commissioner's offices. Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh announced that an elaborate bandobast plan has been chalked out for the programme, with 2,000 officers being deployed around the ground. The announcement was made after the final parade practice on Wednesday. In addition to 500 cameras in the vicinity of the ground, the police are installing an additional 100. A strict frisking procedure will be in place before the entry. Handheld metal detectors, door frame metal detectors, and baggage scanners will be deployed for additional security measures. The public are strictly allowed to enter through Gate 5 only and should occupy blocks seven, eight and nine. E-pass holders must carry valid ID proof, and the public must be seated inside by 8.30 a.m., and no latecomers will be entertained. Any sharp objects, matchboxes, knives, pamphlets, food and snacks, water bottles, video and still cameras, firecrackers, explosives, and weapons won't be allowed. No one can wear black clothing. Traffic restrictions To ensure smooth flow of traffic, the police have announced traffic diversions and parking restrictions around the Central Business District (CBD) from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Parking has been prohibited on Central Street from Anil Kumble Circle to Shivajinagar bus stand. Similarly, no parking on Cubbon Road from CTO Circle to K.R. Road and Cubbon Road junction. Parking is also prohibited on M.G. Road between Anil Kumble Circle and Queens Circle on both sides. The vehicles coming from Infantry Road towards Manipal Centre should move on Infantry Road, take a left turn at Safina Plaza, move to Kamaraj Road via Dispensary Road, take a right turn at Dickenson Road junction, and reach Manipal Centre junction via Cubbon Road. Vehicles coming from Manipal junction towards BRV Junction on Cubbon Road will be prohibited near Manipal Centre. Vehicles must take the right turn at the Webbs junction, move on MG Road, take a right turn at Anil Kumble Circle and reach BRV junction. The vehicles coming from Anil Kumble Circle towards Cubbon Road will go straight on Central Street Junction, take a right turn on Infantry Road, move to Safina Plaza, take a left turn and reach Kamaraj Road via Alies Circle, take a right at Dickenson Road junction to reach KR Road, make a left turn to Cubbon Road and reach Manipal Centre via Cubbon Road.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
CCB unearths illegal telephone exchange racket being operated from data centre in Whitefield
A mobile service provider led the Central Crime Branch officials to unearth another illegal international telephone exchange racket being operated from a data centre in Whitefield. Based on a complaint by the Department of Telecom and Vodafone, a team of officials raided Iron Mountain data centre in Whitefield and seized six SIM boxes, 133 SIM cards, 12 data storage servers, an Internet Protocol Private Branch Exchange (IPBX), a network router, and other equipment worth ₹10 lakh. The police arrested Tufail Ahmed, 35, a BE graduate from Tamil Nadu, allegedly operating the centre, while his two associates were overseeing the operations from Dubai. Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh said that the accused converted international calls to local ones, and thus cheated service providers and telecallers. The police during the probe also found that the service was being used for cybercrimes, which is now part of the investigation. The accused had rented space to run the illegal exchange. This is the third case of an illegal telephone exchange racket operated from the city that was unearthed in the last one month. The racket came to light based on the alert received by Vodafone from the Department of Telecommunications regarding a suspected illegal SIM box operation allegedly being used to facilitate cyber financial fraud. The activity was traced to the Whitefield area, specifically within the IT Park (ITPL). The DoT also said that 107 mobile numbers issued by Vodafone-Idea Limited are suspected to be used in SIM box devices, in violation of telecom regulations. The service provider found that all 107 SIM cards were issued to a company named Gleam Global Services India Private Limited. Technical analysis indicated that these SIM cards were misused in SIM box devices to route unauthorised or fraudulent calls, which constituted a serious breach under the Telecommunications Act, 2023. The CCB officials, who had arrested Tufail in a similar case, took him into police custody for seven days and a detailed questioning led him to confess to the crime. The CCB officials gathered details of his associates in Dubai and efforts are on to secure them. With this, the CCB officials managed to disconnect at least three networks of illegal telephone exchange rackets and they suspect that there are more.
News18
05-08-2025
- News18
Classrooms To Couriers To Dark Web: How A Task Force Is Chasing Down The Drugs Nexus In Karnataka
Last Updated: Karnataka has stressed on the need to curb unauthorised sales of synthetic and psychotropic drugs, instructing police to adopt the Belagavi model involving prosecution of consumers The formation of the anti-narcotic task force in Karnataka has significantly enhanced efforts to combat the drug menace in the state. The Bengaluru City police have mandated the establishment of an anti-drugs wing at all schools and colleges to monitor, trace, and eradicate drugs and their associated networks. With a notable increase in drug use among students and teenagers, they have intensified their approach by targeting consumers, a shift from previous practices. Bengaluru has experienced one of its largest drug seizures, with over Rs 60 crore worth of narcotics confiscated so far. 'That's why we are building on our intelligence network in educational institutions as well. We understand we have to catch them at the initial stage so that they don't go down the wrong path later in life," Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh told News18. In 2024, addressing the surge in drug abuse in educational institutions, the Karnataka government implemented a comprehensive plan. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced a student policing system to oversee schools, colleges, and hostels, incorporating NCC and NSS units to identify and report drug-related issues. The state government officially established the anti-narcotic task force (ANTF), which will operate under the supervision of the DG and IGP, and report to the ADGP, Cyber Command, functioning statewide. This initiative followed Siddaramaiah's push for a ministerial task force to dismantle drug networks across the state. The home department will also create an Anti-Drug Control Commissioner position to collaborate with the Drug Controller Board under the health department, led by an IPS officer. The Bengaluru police stress a holistic approach to tackle the drug menace, with them playing a vital role supported by other departments and society. They are fostering awareness, collecting information, booking cases, and maintaining a zero-tolerance policy. Singh said constantly tracing the origin and movement of drugs is essential. 'In a big city like Bengaluru, it's a constant challenge. Every time we crack down, they come up with new ways to get drugs in. Recently, we seized drugs sent through post offices, parcels via private couriers, and even online sales. Then there's the Dark Web — that's another major problem," he said. The newly formed ANTF includes 10 new positions — two additional SPs, two ACPs to oversee narcotics cases — and absorbs 56 personnel from the anti-Naxal force (ANF), including two police inspectors and four sub-inspectors. The state has stressed on the need to curb unauthorised sales of synthetic and psychotropic drugs, especially in medical shops, instructing police to adopt the Belagavi model, which involves prosecuting drug consumers, not just suppliers. Given Belagavi's proximity to other states and its location along a known drug corridor into Goa, this approach has seen a surge in drug cases. 'Booking the consumer helps track the source and network — and also acts as a strong deterrent," said another senior police officer. The ANTF will also bring in outsourced experts — legal, forensic, and data analysts. The government has established a Cyber Crime Prevention Unit and renamed 43 Cyber, Economic, and Narcotics (CEN) police stations as cyber crime stations, registering cases under the IT Act and BNS sections related to cyber crimes. The CEN will track and trace drug rings, many now operating on the Dark Web. The estimated annual recurring expenditure for the ANTF is around Rs 2.77 crore. State home minister G Parameshwara said the task force will work like a rapid-response team. 'They act wherever the information comes from. We've already given instructions to every SP," he said. All police officials and related departments will be trained on the MAP-Drugs app to address drug abuse and booking. District-wise targets will be set to curb drug abuse, and sub-committees modeled on the ANTF will coordinate efforts across districts. The state has intensified airport checks and advised including customs, DRI, and other agencies, including the recently formed ANTF, in coordination meetings. Strict measures are planned against unregistered pharmaceutical firms, and all pharmacies have been instructed to display boards stating: 'Sale without doctor's prescription is prohibited'. view comments First Published: August 05, 2025, 09:00 IST News india Classrooms To Couriers To Dark Web: How A Task Force Is Chasing Down The Drugs Nexus In Karnataka Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India Today
02-08-2025
- India Today
Actor Ramya gets obscene comments on social media, 2 arrested
The Cyber Crime unit of the Bengaluru Police has arrested two individuals for posting obscene comments against Kannada actress Ramya on social media. The arrests were made following an investigation that used IP address tracking and social media ID analysis by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) cyber team.A complaint has already been filed by Ramya with the police in this regard. advertisementThe accused, identified as residents of Kolar and Chitradurga, had used vulgar language and openly challenged the authorities online. According to Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh, two people have been arrested so far and 11 others have been identified for their involvement in the case. "The CCB has a strong track record of identifying such cases. They have already solved several similar ones. In this case, we have already arrested two individuals and the investigation is ongoing involving 11 others. We have found direct involvement of these 11 individuals and they will be arrested soon," Singh police have verified multiple offensive comments, and strict action has been promised against those posting derogatory content online. "When actress Ramya filed her complaint, we promptly referred the matter to the Cyber Crime Department," the Commissioner to queries about the accused, he said, "As per the rules, we cannot disclose such details. A total of 13 individuals were involved in the trolling. The investigation is still underway. Two of those arrested are from a neighboring district.""We are actively investigating the individuals behind those Twitter accounts," he further stated, "As we have mentioned earlier, we have strengthened our social media monitoring team and provided them with specialised training. The CCB Cyber Crime Branch is doing commendable work in this area. Moving forward, if anyone tweets illegally or uses harassing language on social media, we will take immediate action." - EndsMust Watch
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Time of India
Karnataka cops resume booking drug usersto cut demand & trace peddlers
Bengaluru: In a policy shift, police have resumed the practice of booking drug users too, in addition to taking action on peddlers and their networks. Officials say the move under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act is intended to curb demand and extract critical leads to track peddlers. Monday, police arrested a Kerala-based man in Avalahalli, on the city's outskirts, with 32 LSD pills in his possession. Alongside him, a suspected buyer—a young professional—was also taken into custody. Both are now facing charges under the NDPS Act and are being interrogated. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru For the past few years, Bengaluru police had largely refrained from booking drug consumers, citing concerns over alleged corruption in investigations. During the period, consumers were usually produced before magistrates, fined, and let off without criminal prosecution. However, this method had a side effect — investigations often stopped at the consumer level, making it hard to track the peddling networks operating in the city. City police commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh said the revised approach is part of a broader strategy to crack down on the drug trade more effectively. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo "Consumers are vital links in the drug network. By booking them, we can trace the source. A case is a case, and every participant should be brought to justice," he told TOI. DG&IGP MA Saleem confirmed that the policy shift is being implemented statewide. Police superintendents and commissioners across districts have been asked to work closely with public prosecutors, both at the chargesheet stage and during trials, to secure more convictions in drug cases. Records show that from Jan 2021 to Feb this year, Karnataka registered 23,869 NDPS cases. Of these, 9,534 led to convictions, while around 300 suspects were acquitted. Bengaluru and its surrounding areas accounted for 13,115 of these cases, with 5,587 convictions, underscoring the city's role as a prime target for drug networks. ADGP (law and order) R Hitendra said conviction rates in cities like Mangaluru, Belagavi, and Mysuru remain lower compared to Bengaluru. "We are focusing on minimising errors in booking cases and filing chargesheets. Often, suspects secure acquittal because of procedural lapses. That needs to change. We are training the staff," he said. Advocate Srinivasa Rao also backed the move to prosecute consumers and said the NDPS Act provides for punishment for possession, even in small quantities meant for personal use. "However, in practice, consumers are often left out of criminal cases. By bringing everyone under the legal framework, investigations can become more thorough and may lead to unmasking the supply chain," he added. Police officials acknowledged that with the addition of consumers to NDPS cases, the total number of reported cases is expected to rise. But they argue that this will provide a more accurate picture of the drug problem, allowing law enforcement agencies to mount stronger and more targeted crackdowns.
