Latest news with #Unionministryofhomeaffairs
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
136 cybercriminals arrested in statewide crackdown
Chennai: In a coordinated crackdown on online fraud, the cybercrime wing arrested 136 cybercriminals across the state as part of Operation Thiraineekku-II which relied on scientific profiling, real-time monitoring, and financial trail mapping. What made the operation stand out was its back-end precision. Officers used the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) of the Union ministry of home affairs to profile accused peopke based on digital footprints, complaint data, and transaction histories. At the same time, bank fund trail analysis was deployed to detect and track mule accounts (accounts used to route fraudulently obtained money). The three-day operation, which began on June 2 and concluded in the early hours of June 4, led to arrests linked to 159 cybercrime cases statewide. Among the accused were six key players behind more than 30 shell companies and 100 bank mule agents. These are people who lend or sell their bank accounts to scamsters to move illicit funds and obscure the original source. During the raids, police seized 125 mobile phones, 304 bank accounts, 88 cheque books, 107 debit and credit cards, and 35 desktops — assets central to the functioning of fraudulent networks. The operation built on the earlier Thiraineekku-I effort in Dec 2024. Officials said investigations are still underway to track additional suspects, retrieve defrauded money, and identify inter-state linkages. Calling it one of the largest operations of its kind in the country, DGP Shankar Jiwal commended the cybercrime wing.
Hindustan Times
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Blackout from 8pm to 8.15pm near vital installations in Haryana today
Haryana government is set to conduct a state-wide civil defence exercise, named 'Operation Shield,' on May 31, across all 22 districts to enhance the state's emergency preparedness and response capabilities. The drill will begin at 5pm and it is being organised under the guidance of the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) to simulate critical incidents such as air raids, drone attacks, and other wartime scenarios in the light of current national security concerns. A controlled blackout of 15 minutes will be observed from 8 pm to 8.15 pm near vital installations, with the exception of essential emergency services such as hospitals, fire stations, and police stations. According to additional chief secretary (ACS-home), Sumita Misra, the exercise aims to test existing emergency mechanisms, improve coordination between the civil administration, defence forces, and local communities and to identify areas that need to be strengthened. She said that currently there are around 32,000 civil defence volunteers across the state who will also contribute to this exercise. All deputy commissioners (DCs) have been directed to call out civil defence volunteers, NSS, NCC, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), home gaurds, etc. of their respective districts in order to brief them regarding their deployment, duties and exercises to be undertaken. The ACS (home) said that key components include drills responding to aerial threats such as air raids and swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), activation of air raid sirens, and testing of control room communication hotlines established with the Indian Air Force.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Time of India
To handle drones from Pakistan, Punjab Police to help BSF, install anti-drone system by Nov: DGP
Chandigarh: As part of forming a second line of defence on the border with Pakistan, Punjab govt is all set to install an anti-drone system by Sept or Oct this year, said director general of police Gaurav Yadav on Monday. Addressing a press conference on the state's war against drugs , the DGP said they had tested the anti-drone system. "Our officers held a meeting with MHA (Union ministry of home affairs), Delhi, and very soon, Punjab will be installing the system in coordination with the BSF." day after the DGP The DGP said a target was fixed to make Punjab drug-free "in the sense that the availability of drugs on the street is brought to zero". For the same, he said, "Senior superintendents of police and commissioners of police have been directed to plan and execute whatever necessary measures are to be taken and fix a target date at their own level, but not later than May," he said. He added, "The objective is to cut all supply lines before 31 May and by which their area would be completely drug-free." The DGP said, "This war against drugs is not about numbers. We are not giving any targets. The focus is on qualitatively bringing down the availability of drugs on streets." Asserting that rigorous field assessment using intelligence and other resources would be carried out to determine the actual ground reality after May 31, the DGP said good work would fetch rewards to the officers and "where performance is not up to mark, accountability and responsibility would be fixed." He said, "Heroin users would be brought under the de-addiction and rehabilitation umbrella." The DGP said due to meticulous investigation, Punjab achieved around a 90% conviction rate in drugs cases since March this year. "Out of 836 decided cases, there are 744 convictions and in 144 of them more than 10-year imprisonment was awarded," he added. The DGP said on the request of police, the state govt was actively examining a proposal to set up 30 exclusive courts for the NDPS Act cases after taking concurrence from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. These courts, he said, could entail an annual expense of Rs 22.8 crore. The DGP said that Punjab Police has formed a three-pronged strategy—dismantling hawala networks, freezing assets, and bulldozing illegal constructions—to break the financial backbone of drug smuggling. 'Transfer of Prisoners (Punjab Amendment) Act notified' The DGP said while there was a PIT NDPS Act in place for the preventive detention of big smugglers, the Punjab govt also recently notified the Transfer of Prisoners (Punjab Amendment) Act after a bill was passed by the state assembly and govt got the presidential assent to enact it. The DGP added, "We will also examine in consultation with other states which such accused are there who could be put outside Punjab jails even during trial so that it can be a deterrent." 'Distinguishing between user and seller' During the press conference, the DGP said that the Punjab govt was dealing with drug users compassionately, and 689 persons caught with a small quantity of drugs were sent to de-addiction centres for treatment instead of jail using the provision under Section 64-A of the NDPS Act. Asked about a man being held in a drugs case after "a transparent polythene bag having traces of poppy husk" under Lambi police station in Muktsar district, the DGP said, "We are getting all those facts checked from the SSP. The police have to distinguish between user and peddler. Some users also sell the drugs." Chandigarh: As part of forming a second line of defence on the border with Pakistan, Punjab govt is all set to install an anti-drone system by Sept or Oct this year, said director general of police Gaurav Yadav on Monday. Addressing a press conference on the state's war against drugs, the DGP said they had tested the anti-drone system. "Our officers held a meeting with MHA (Union ministry of home affairs), Delhi, and very soon, Punjab will be installing the system in coordination with the BSF." day after the DGP The DGP said a target was fixed to make Punjab drug-free "in the sense that the availability of drugs on the street is brought to zero". For the same, he said, "Senior superintendents of police and commissioners of police have been directed to plan and execute whatever necessary measures are to be taken and fix a target date at their own level, but not later than May," he said. He added, "The objective is to cut all supply lines before 31 May and by which their area would be completely drug-free." The DGP said, "This war against drugs is not about numbers. We are not giving any targets. The focus is on qualitatively bringing down the availability of drugs on streets." Asserting that rigorous field assessment using intelligence and other resources would be carried out to determine the actual ground reality after May 31, the DGP said good work would fetch rewards to the officers and "where performance is not up to mark, accountability and responsibility would be fixed." He said, "Heroin users would be brought under the de-addiction and rehabilitation umbrella." The DGP said due to meticulous investigation, Punjab achieved around a 90% conviction rate in drugs cases since March this year. "Out of 836 decided cases, there are 744 convictions and in 144 of them more than 10-year imprisonment was awarded," he added. The DGP said on the request of police, the state govt was actively examining a proposal to set up 30 exclusive courts for the NDPS Act cases after taking concurrence from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. These courts, he said, could entail an annual expense of Rs 22.8 crore. The DGP said that Punjab Police has formed a three-pronged strategy—dismantling hawala networks, freezing assets, and bulldozing illegal constructions—to break the financial backbone of drug smuggling. 'Transfer of Prisoners (Punjab Amendment) Act notified' The DGP said while there was a PIT NDPS Act in place for the preventive detention of big smugglers, the Punjab govt also recently notified the Transfer of Prisoners (Punjab Amendment) Act after a bill was passed by the state assembly and govt got the presidential assent to enact it. The DGP added, "We will also examine in consultation with other states which such accused are there who could be put outside Punjab jails even during trial so that it can be a deterrent." 'Distinguishing between user and seller' During the press conference, the DGP said that the Punjab govt was dealing with drug users compassionately, and 689 persons caught with a small quantity of drugs were sent to de-addiction centres for treatment instead of jail using the provision under Section 64-A of the NDPS Act. Asked about a man being held in a drugs case after "a transparent polythene bag having traces of poppy husk" under Lambi police station in Muktsar district, the DGP said, "We are getting all those facts checked from the SSP. The police have to distinguish between user and peddler. Some users also sell the drugs."
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Time of India
To handle drons from Pakistan, Punjab Police to hell BSF, install anti-drone system by Nov: DGP
Chandigarh: As part of forming a second line of defence on the border with Pakistan, Punjab govt is all set to install an anti-drone system by Sept or Oct this year, said director general of police Gaurav Yadav on Monday. Addressing a press conference on the state's war against drugs , the DGP said they had tested the anti-drone system. "Our officers held a meeting with MHA (Union ministry of home affairs), Delhi, and very soon, Punjab will be installing the system in coordination with the BSF." day after the DGP The DGP said a target was fixed to make Punjab drug-free "in the sense that the availability of drugs on the street is brought to zero". For the same, he said, "Senior superintendents of police and commissioners of police have been directed to plan and execute whatever necessary measures are to be taken and fix a target date at their own level, but not later than May," he said. He added, "The objective is to cut all supply lines before 31 May and by which their area would be completely drug-free." The DGP said, "This war against drugs is not about numbers. We are not giving any targets. The focus is on qualitatively bringing down the availability of drugs on streets." Asserting that rigorous field assessment using intelligence and other resources would be carried out to determine the actual ground reality after May 31, the DGP said good work would fetch rewards to the officers and "where performance is not up to mark, accountability and responsibility would be fixed." He said, "Heroin users would be brought under the de-addiction and rehabilitation umbrella." The DGP said due to meticulous investigation, Punjab achieved around a 90% conviction rate in drugs cases since March this year. "Out of 836 decided cases, there are 744 convictions and in 144 of them more than 10-year imprisonment was awarded," he added. The DGP said on the request of police, the state govt was actively examining a proposal to set up 30 exclusive courts for the NDPS Act cases after taking concurrence from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. These courts, he said, could entail an annual expense of Rs 22.8 crore. The DGP said that Punjab Police has formed a three-pronged strategy—dismantling hawala networks, freezing assets, and bulldozing illegal constructions—to break the financial backbone of drug smuggling. 'Transfer of Prisoners (Punjab Amendment) Act notified' The DGP said while there was a PIT NDPS Act in place for the preventive detention of big smugglers, the Punjab govt also recently notified the Transfer of Prisoners (Punjab Amendment) Act after a bill was passed by the state assembly and govt got the presidential assent to enact it. The DGP added, "We will also examine in consultation with other states which such accused are there who could be put outside Punjab jails even during trial so that it can be a deterrent." 'Distinguishing between user and seller' During the press conference, the DGP said that the Punjab govt was dealing with drug users compassionately, and 689 persons caught with a small quantity of drugs were sent to de-addiction centres for treatment instead of jail using the provision under Section 64-A of the NDPS Act. Asked about a man being held in a drugs case after "a transparent polythene bag having traces of poppy husk" under Lambi police station in Muktsar district, the DGP said, "We are getting all those facts checked from the SSP. The police have to distinguish between user and peddler. Some users also sell the drugs."
