New cyberfraud in India: "Digital arrest"; 17 held for operating nationwide racket | Top News of Oct 14, 2024

[00:00:09] Hello, this is your Daily Dose of News from Onmanorama. I'm your host Vishnu and these are the major news stories of Monday, Oct 14, 2024.

[00:00:19] India outrightly rejected as preposterous imputations Canada's indication linking the Indian High Commissioner to Ottawa to the alleged killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

[00:00:30] Three US-based academics won the 2024 Nobel Economics Prize for their research into why global inequality persists, especially in countries dogged by corruption and dictatorship.

[00:00:41] At least 10 people were killed and 40 injured in northern Gaza on Monday after Israeli tank shells hit people queuing for food, Alistin and Medik said, as fears mounted in the enclave that Israel plans to displace all residents from the north.

[00:00:55] 17 persons, including four hailing from Taiwan, were arrested by Ahmedabad Cybercrime Branch for allegedly operating a nationwide digital arrest racket, a Gujarat police official said.

[00:01:07] Kerala Assembly on Monday unanimously adopted a resolution against the centre's delayed assistance to landslide hit Vyanod. Let's get into the details.

[00:01:16] India on Monday outrightly rejected as preposterous invitations Canada's indication linking the Indian High Commissioner to Ottawa to the investigation into the alleged killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

[00:01:28] The Ministry of External Affairs said India received a diplomatic communication from Canada yesterday suggesting that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats are persons of interest in a matter related to an investigation in that country.

[00:01:39] The Ministry of External Affairs said India now reserves the right to take further steps in response to these latest efforts of the Canadian government to concoct allegations against Indian diplomats.

[00:01:50] Since Prime Minister Trudeau made certain allegations in September 2023, the Canadian government has not shared a shred of evidence with the government of India, despite many requests from our side, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

[00:02:01] It said Canada's latest step follows interactions that have again witnessed assertions without any facts.

[00:02:06] The relations between India and Canada came under severe strain following Trudeau's allegations in September last year of a potential involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

[00:02:18] Nijjar was gunned down in Surrey, British Columbia in June last year. New Delhi rejected Trudeau's charges as absurd.

[00:02:25] Three US-based academics won the 2024 Nobel Economics Prize on Monday for their research into why global inequality persists, especially in countries dogged by corruption and dictatorship.

[00:02:35] Simon Johnson and James Robinson, both British-American and Turkish-American Darren Asimoglu, were commented for their work on how institutions are formed and affect prosperity, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said.

[00:02:47] The award came a day after World Bank reports showed that the world's 26 poorest countries, home to 40% of its most poverty-stricken people, are more in debt than at any time since 2006, highlighting a major reversal in the fight against poverty.

[00:03:02] At least 10 people were killed and 40 injured in northern Gaza on Monday after Israeli tank shells hit people queuing for food, Palestinian medic said, as fears mounted in the enclave that Israel plans to displace all residents from the north.

[00:03:14] Medic said an Israeli drone had also opened fire where dozens of residents had gathered to receive food in Jabaliyah, one of Gaza's eight historic refugee camps.

[00:03:22] Women and children were among the victims, they said.

[00:03:25] The Israeli military said it was looking into the incident.

[00:03:28] Jabaliyah has been the focus of an Israeli offensive for around 10 days and the military has now encircled the camp and sent tanks into nearby beat Lahia and beat Hanun towns,

[00:03:37] with the declared aim of tamping out Hamas fighters who are trying to degroup there.

[00:03:41] With the Israeli military calling on Palestinians to evacuate south as they step up pressure on Hamas,

[00:03:46] and Hamas telling them not to leave because it was too risky, the past few days resemble earlier phases of the war.

[00:03:51] The northern part of Gaza, home to well over half the territory's 2.3 million people, was heavily bombed in the first phase of Israel's assault on the territory which began a year ago.

[00:04:02] 17 persons, including four hailing from Taiwan, were arrested by Ahmedabad's cybercrime branch for allegedly operating a nationwide digital arrest racket, a Gujarat police official said on Monday.

[00:04:12] Digital arrest is a type of cybercrime in which the victim is made to believe that he or she is under investigation by authorities for money laundering, drug smuggling, etc.

[00:04:20] The victim is asked to remain in confinement while being accessible to fraudsters via video call and other online tools, hence the term digital arrest.

[00:04:28] The victim is then forced to transfer large amounts of money into various bank accounts by the accused in order to be let off.

[00:04:33] The racket was being run from call centres that were designed to resemble rail offices of probe agencies and from which video calls were made.

[00:04:41] Kerala Assembly on Monday unanimously adopted a resolution against the centre's delayed assistance to landslide Headwainard.

[00:04:47] The substantial motion was presented by Parliamentary Affairs Minister M.B. Rajesh at the outset of an adjournment discussion in the House on the matter.

[00:04:54] In the resolution, the minister said a memorandum had already been submitted to the centre detailing the distractions suffered during the landslides that had affected Surilmala, Mundakai and Punjirumatta medias in May Padi Panjaita, Vayanar on July 30.

[00:05:06] No immediate assistance has been received so far in this regard and the delay in getting the central aid would adversely impact the rehabilitation of landslide survivors, the minister pointed out.

[00:05:16] The centre should take steps to provide immediate financial assistance and write off the bank loans of landslide hit people completely, the resolution demanded.

[00:05:23] Later, Speaker Dayen Shamsir announced that the House unanimously passed a resolution.

[00:05:29] That brings us to the end of this episode. Thanks for listening to Daily News Toes.

[00:05:33] Hosted and produced by me, Vishnu Murlitharan.

[00:05:35] Follow www.onmonodoma.com for detailed updates on the latest news and be sure to come back tomorrow.