Man Impersonates Army Officer To Cheat People, Arrested: Delhi Cops

A 26-year-old man was arrested for allegedly posing as an Army officer and duping people on the pretext of purchasing goods for army school, police said on Wednesday.

The accused, Harish, hails from Hidayatpur village in Palwal district of Haryana. He used to run 'White Global ATM' in Bamni village in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan, they said.

As of now, a total of five complaints registered in various states have been identified that are linked to the accused and money trail of more than Rs 70 lakh is found in these fraudulent accounts, police said.

According to police, the matter came to light after a Delhi resident told them that he received a call from an unknown caller on June 30, 2022. The person called him on the pretext of purchasing pipes for army school and introduced himself as an Army officer. The accused duped him of Rs 10,47,605.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) Rohit Meena said that the probe team collected all the relevant information including Call Detail Record and WhatsApp chat. All bank details and phone numbers of the accused were analysed.

During investigation, it was found that all the cheated money was withdrawn through ATMs in Bharatpur, Rajasthan after transferring it through several other bank accounts. After thorough analysis and technical evidence, a raid was conducted in Palwal, and accused Harish was arrested, he said.

Interrogation revealed that he is part of a gang whose members introduce themselves as Army officers and cheat people on the pretext of purchasing goods for Army school, he added.

The police have recovered mobile phones and SIM cards used in the crime.

Further investigation is underway to unearth the previous incidents of similar nature and other modus operandi. Besides, previous victims are being contacted on the basis of CDR analysis and WhatsApp chats, the DCP said.

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Locals Vandalise Manipur MLA's Home, Say No Protection From Insurgents

The house of Manipur PWD Minister Konthoujam Govindas in Bishnupur district was vandalised on Wednesday by a group of people claiming that the government in the strife-torn state is not doing enough to protect locals from militants belonging to another community, officials said.

The minister who is a BJP leader and his family members, however, were not present at the house when the mob, comprising mostly women, attacked the house in Ningthoukhong area and damaged a portion of a gate, windows, a few furniture and electronic gadgets.

This is the first time a minister's house was attacked during the ongoing ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki community people in the state that started three weeks ago and claimed more than 70 lives. Army and paramilitary forces have been deployed to control the situation in the state.

"The locals were angry. They alleged that Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Govindas and other BJP MLAs have been silent over the ongoing violence and not doing enough to protect them from armed militants," an official said.

There were reports that militants late Tuesday night torched the houses of some villagers at Toronglaobi in Bishnupur district. The authorities have then reduced the curfew relaxation hours, officials said.

There were rumours about a few persons getting killed or injured in Churachandpur district but there was no official confirmation.

Meanwhile, Eastern Army commander Lt Gen R P Kalita undertook a three-day visit to strife-torn Manipur till Wednesday to assess and review the ground security situation, a defence official said in Kolkata.

The northeastern state shares international borders with Myanmar.

The General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Army Command, held meetings with local stakeholders, including members of all communities and several civil society organisations, the official said.

In his meetings with the stakeholders, the Eastern Army commander "urged suspension of hostilities by all sections of society".

During the visit from May 22 to 24, Lt Gen Kalita visited Kangpokpi, Matripukhri, Churachandpur, Bishnupur, Yaingangpokpi and Moreh, where he was updated on the security situation by local commanders.

He also held interactions with Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and senior government officials to discuss the ongoing situation and measures to boost unison among all agencies for setting in normalcy as early as possible, he said.

Kalita urged the people of Manipur to maintain tranquillity and harmony and to carry out constructive dialogue to ensure lasting peace in the region.

The Army has recovered five shotguns, five improvised local grenades and three cartons of shotgun ammunition from a car in Senapati district.

"Three persons were apprehended and handed over to the police along with the recovered items," the force said on Wednesday.

Clashes broke out in Manipur after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

The violence in Manipur was preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of smaller agitations.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals -- Nagas and Kukis -- constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts.

The ethnic clashes claimed over 70 lives and some 10,000 army and paramilitary personnel had to be deployed to restore normalcy in the northeastern state.

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"Take Turns To Get Maternity Leave": Chinese Company's Bizarre Demand From Female Staffers

A Chinese company requested three female employees to take turns applying for maternity leaves. Wondering why? Well, so that the business operation would not be "paralysed". One of the women who was unsure how to deal with the situation sought advice online with her post. It soon caused a backlash on Chinese social media, reported South China Morning Post.

The names of the three female employees were not revealed. The staffers were planning to have children around the same time and when the senior executives learned of this, they held a meeting with them and told them they should get pregnant in rotation to minimise inconvenience for the company.

One of the executives told the women, "You need to take turns to get pregnant."

One of the women, 28, got married last year before she joined the company. She said she had planned to get pregnant even if she did not get a job.

Another woman, 37, wanted to have a child as soon as possible and the third female employee, 37, was planning to have her second child.

They were stunned by the executives' bizarre request. The executive tried to convenience the trio that they have to drop their original plans of having a baby around the same time as the company will be left short-staffed, SCMP reported.

The 28-year-old female employee was told to social media to seek advice.

The post soon went viral and received 10,880 comments.

Commenting on the post, a user wrote, "If I worked in a company with three colleagues on maternity leave, I would be driven crazy by the overloaded work."

Another user wrote, "Look how difficult it is for women to have a job."

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Trump Rival Ron DeSantis To Launch White House Bid Today

Republican Ron DeSantis is to announce his hotly-anticipated challenge to Donald Trump for the party's 2024 White House nomination on Wednesday, touting his ultra-conservative record as governor of Florida as a blueprint for the nation.

DeSantis was to kick off his presidential bid during a live Twitter event with Elon Musk, the platform's mercurial owner, a source familiar with the plans told AFP.

"I will be interviewing Ron DeSantis and he has quite an announcement to make," Musk confirmed on Tuesday, promising the 6 pm (2200 GMT) event on Twitter spaces would be unscripted with "real time questions and answers."

"It's going to be live. Let it rip," Musk told a Wall Street Journal conference.

Long viewed as the most credible challenger to the twice-impeached Trump, DeSantis has used his platform as Florida's chief executive to burnish his conservative credentials, signing off on 80 new state laws this spring, many targeting "woke indoctrination" in schools and other public institutions.

They include a ban on the discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation in schools, a block on funding for efforts to promote diversity and inclusion at public universities and one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country.

But the 44-year-old's official launch comes with his ratings in decline despite a slate of right-wing legislative wins in his state.

Lauded as "DeFUTURE" by The New York Post after a landslide reelection last November, DeSantis has seen expectations for a barnstorming campaign sweeping him into the Oval Office lowered in recent months.

A number of policy missteps -- both domestic and on the international stage -- have prompted disquiet about his readiness to take on the former president Trump, with donors worried he may have peaked too soon.

He faces the daunting task of closing an enormous polling gap, with Trump posting leads close to 40 percentage points, despite being indicted on felony financial charges and being found liable for sexual abuse in a New York civil trial.

- 'Positive alternative' -

But DeSantis goes into the campaign with a large cash advantage over his rivals in the pack chasing Trump -- a war chest of potentially more than $100 million -- and buoyed by strong turnout at a series of recent campaign events.

Never Back Down, a super PAC that has acted as the governor's de facto campaign arm before he announced, has a ground operation in most of the early nominating states and is making plans to expand.

Famously allergic to the mainstream media, DeSantis had been reaching out to the traditional national press and local reporters on campaign stops -- though he will be sidestepping the press by making his big announcement on social media with Musk.

Behind the scenes, the Trump and DeSantis camps have been jostling to secure political endorsements from state lawmakers while, at the national level, Florida's congressional delegation has broken heavily for Trump.

DeSantis has largely refrained from retaliating amid a near-daily barrage of attacks from Trump on his record, character and fitness for office, making clear that, for now at least, he would rather avoid a bitter fight with the former president's most ardent supporters.

DeSantis has also been criticized for lacking the personal touch that Trump's supporters say is one of the former president's biggest assets.

But the former naval officer and congressman has been redoubling his efforts more recently to stay behind after speaking engagements to press flesh, sign autographs and have his picture taken with supporters.

The father-of-three has also been sharing the spotlight with his wife, Casey DeSantis, deployed to take the edges off her husband's aloof, standoffish image by talking up his qualities as a family man.

DeSantis has spent months preparing the ground for his White House bid, criss-crossing the country to promote his memoir, "The Courage to be Free," and making multiple stops in states seen as influential in the Republican primary contest, including Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

"If we make 2024 a referendum on Joe Biden and his failures and we provide a positive alternative for the future of this country, Republicans will win across the board," DeSantis said during a visit this month to Sioux Center, Iowa.

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"Exciting Time To Be Serving Nation": PM Modi To Successful Civil Services Exam Candidates

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday congratulated the successful candidates in the civil services examination, and said it is a very exciting time to be serving the nation and bringing a positive difference in the lives of people.

In tweets, PM Modi also had a word of consolation and encouragement for those who could not clear the prestigious exam.

"I understand the disappointment of those who couldn't clear the Civil Services Exams. Not only will there be more attempts to avail but also India offers several diverse opportunities to showcase your skills and strengths. Wishing you the very best," he said.

Congratulating the successful candidates, he said, "My best wishes for a fruitful and satisfying career ahead. This is a very exciting time to be serving the nation and bringing a positive difference in the lives of people." As many as 933 candidates -- 613 men and 320 women -- qualified the civil services examination 2022, results of which were declared by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Tuesday. The top 25 candidates comprise 14 women and 11 men.

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Watch: This Rendition Of 'Bella Ciao' By Mumbai Police Band Impresses Internet

The Mumbai Police has a strong social media presence. From nailing the meme game to answering mundane questions with witty one-liners, Mumbai Police has always been the internet's favourite. This time, a video shared by the city police on its Twitter handle shows members of the Khaki studio showcasing their musical talent by performing the iconic Bella Ciao composition.

Clad in Khaki, members of the band can be seen playing the iconic tune on saxophones, trumpets, conga drums and other instruments.

"Mumbaikars!.Pl enjoy,, Our police band performing for you!! Dates: 20-21, 27-28 May and dt. 03, 04 June 2023," read the caption of the post.

Watch the video here:

Mumbaikars!.
Pl enjoy,, Our police band performing for you!!

Dates: 20-21, 27-28 May and dt. 03, 04 June 2023#KhakiStudio#Weekend pic.twitter.com/MRDSHOYcdM

— पोलीस आयुक्त, बृहन्मुंबई - CP Mumbai Police (@CPMumbaiPolice) May 21, 2023

Since being posted, the video has gathered over 58,000 views on Twitter with several comments. A user commented, "Outstanding performance by team Mumbai police. Hearty congratulations to all of you for better performance."

Another user wrote, "Since it's on the internet, the entire India is enjoying the performance."

"Marvelous talent," commented the third.

Bella Ciao is an Italian protest folk song dating back to the late 19th century when women workers in paddy fields, who were known as mondina, would sing it to describe their hardships.

During the Second World War, the song was modified and used by the anti-fascist Partisan movement in Italy.

Under the Khaki Studio initiative launched in 2022, the Mumbai police band has also performed the James Bond theme music and a rendition of A R Rahman's Jai Ho from Slumdog Millionaire.

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Wrestlers Protest: Thousands March To India Gate To Show Support

New Delhi: The protesting wrestlers on Tuesday decided that the scheduled maha panchayat outside the new Parliament building on May 28 will be held under the leadership of women and youth, and any big decision on the future course of action will henceforth be taken by them.

On Tuesday, thousands of supporters of the wrestlers marched from Jantar Mantar to India Gate under extremely heavy security and raised slogans demanding the arrest of former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

The protesting grapplers, including Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik and Asian Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat, have been demanding Brij Bhushan's arrest alleging that he has sexually harassed several women wrestlers, including a minor.

The supporters braved the extreme heat and the late-evening dust storm as they marched towards India Gate peacefully in unprecedented numbers, which could have led to a stampede but fortunately, no untoward incident occurred.

#WATCH | Wrestlers' candlelight protest in Delhi demanding arrest of BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment allegations against him pic.twitter.com/yHxDhBx6He

— ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2023

Waving hundreds of tricolours, the supporters, who had arrived from bordering states, echoed the same sentiments as the aggrieved wrestlers and demanded the strictest of punishments for Brij Bhushan.

Vinesh, Bajrang and Sakshi, in order to ensure their voice reached the maximum number of supporters, climbed onto a police barricade at India Gate to address them even as hundreds of candles were lit up and supporters squatted at the venue holding placards and shouting slogans against Brij Bhushan.

"For the last one month, we have been protesting (for government to take action against Brij Bhushan) and it is a matter of shame that nothing has happened so far. Today, we took out a candle march at India Gate and we are getting reports that several organisations around the country that they too took out candle marches in their cities and districts.

"We are also getting news that hundreds of our supporters were stopped from entering the national capital," said Vinesh.

Vinesh, buoyed by the support of the thousands of people who assembled at India Gate, said she was hopeful of getting justice soon.

"I am very hopeful that soon we'll get justice," she said.

She expressed her gratitude to the supporters for the "peaceful" match.

"We are happy that we took out the procession in a peaceful manner despite there being thousands of supporters from several organisations across the country.

"The khaps have taken a decision that on May 28, a maha panchayat will be held under the leadership of women and youth near the new Parliament building. We've taken the decision because this is a fight for the integrity and respect of the womenfolk," said Bajrang.

"The khap panchayats will keep lending their support but this protest will be led by our women folk. They will chalk out the future strategy (of the agitation) and the khaps will provide the support in the background," he said.

"Any big decision on the agitation will only be taken after May 28," he added.

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