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TikTok is secretly accessing your iPhone’s clipboard: Report raises massive security concern about Chinese app snooping on users

OpIndia Staff
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TikTok is secretly accessing your iPhone’s clipboard: Report raises massive security concern about Chinese app snooping on users

The Chinese social media video streaming app, TikTok, has been the subject of yet another controversy. According to a Forbes report, it has been found to be snooping on people by exploiting a bug in iOS 14 and accessing the clipboard secretly. While allegations surrounding security concerns of the said app are not new, a fresh set of concerns was raised by security experts Talal Haj Bakry and Tommy Mysk. 

Dismissing all allegations, Bytedance, the owner of TikTok reiterated that the problem was related to an outdated Google Advertising Software Development Kit (SDK). In its defence, the Chinese app said that access to clipboards on the phone was caused due to a ‘feature’ which is meant to identify spammy and repetitive behaviour. TikTok claimed that an updated version of the app was submitted to remove both the feature and the confusion. Forbes noted that while TikTok had vowed to put an end to this ‘invasive practice,’ but it continued unabated as late as April.

“TikTok is committed to protecting users’ privacy and being transparent about how our app works,” the Chinese app was quoted as saying. It further assured to invite outside experts to their Transparency Centre. As per the report, the company was initially willing to brush aside the vulnerabilities of their app and blamed obsolete third-party SDKs. A TikTok spokesperson said, “The clipboard access issues, showed up due to third-party SDKs, in our case an older version Google Ads SDK, so we do not get access to the information through this. We are in the processes of updating so that the third-party SDK will no longer have access.”

TikTok caught red-handed

As per the report, TikTok assured that the issue was fixed. “TikTok does not get access to the data, but we are updating regardless to resolve it”, the company informed over email correspondence. However, with the development of Apple’s new iOS 14, it was revealed that the Chinese app was still having access to the clipboard messages, contrary to the earlier claims. While it could not be ascertained whether the act was ‘deliberate or inadvertent’, but all such apps would have to change.

The Data Vulnerability of TikTok

Forbes reported that Apple had a universal clipboard functionality which implied that anything copied on the Macbook could also be read on the iPhone or iPad. In case TikTok is active on a phone that is used for work, then, the app can read financial information, passwords, sensitive data, documents, and so on. When the Chinese app was exposed in early 2020, there were questions about how the user data was put to use by the company. But, with the recent security update in Apple’s security features, the app is forced to make changes.

Apple indifferent to the data breach

As per the Forbes report, Apple initially refused to acknowledge the vulnerabilities in the Chinese app and came up with a solution, following media uproar. The report also urged TikTok users to update the app to the latest version and remember that the app has active access to one’s clipboard, prior to the release of the update. Researchers conceded that while iOS had a mechanism to counter security risks, it was not effective in safeguarding data privacy. “There was a tremendous public interaction with the topic—not only iOS users but also Android users demand more restriction and transparency about the apps that use the system-wide clipboard,” they emphasised.

Modi govt to draw list of countries to replace China in supplying critical components that cannot be manufactured locally

OpIndia Staff
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Modi govt to draw list of countries to replace China in supplying critical components that cannot be manufactured locally

In a bid to reduce the dependence on China for critical imports, the Modi government has coming up with a plan to look for alternatives that can replace China in supplying critical components to the country. According to the reports, the Union government has decided to draw a list of countries that can act as suppliers of critical components which are not manufactured in India currently.

The Department of Industry and Promotion of International Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce, is working to draw up a list to substitute the low-quality imports from China by importing from other countries or manufactured locally. India will reach out to the countries once the list is ready and plans to enable easier access to these products to the Indian market.

The Modi government has concluded that the dependence on cheap Chinese imports cannot be substituted in a short span of time and thus looking for alternative markets such as South Korea, Japan, Taiwan for imports of certain products.

The Modi government is looking for a calibrated approach to replace Chinese imports with importing from other friendly countries from till India ramps up its own manufacturing capabilities.

Modi government scrutinizing FTAs

Reportedly, the fast-tracking of such critical decisions at the backdrop of Modi government scrutinising various Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with countries which have similar pacts with both India and China. The government has decided to relook at the trade pacts after China began to misuse these to access Indian markets and inversion of Indian duties.

The government is carefully re-looking at FTAs such as the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA), ASEAN, bilateral pacts with Japan, Singapore, to check for loopholes that make it easier for Chinese imports to reach India without following the due duty structure. It is believed that China is routing its goods to the Indian markets by making use of these agreements.

The government is also reviewing the Asia Pacific Agreement (APA), which directly links India and China, South Korea, Bangladesh, Laos, and Sri Lanka. This move will allow India to ensure that cheap Chinese products are not allowed to flood Indian markets.

Rahul Gandhi aide posts a photo of PM Modi with Kyrgyzstan President to insinuate his proximity with China

OpIndia Staff
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Rahul Gandhi aide posts a photo of PM Modi with Kyrgyzstan President to insinuate his proximity with China

The Congress party is in a bit of a spot after details of the party and their leaders’ proximity to China emerged amidst the India-China standoff at Ladakh. First, it was revealed that Congress had signed an MoU with the Communist Party of China in the year 2008. Then, to make matters worse for the party, it was revealed that the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation headed by Sonia Gandhi got multiple donations from not only the Embassy of China but also the government of China.

With the Congress in a fix over its China links emerging, several people on Twitter started posting pictures of Congress leader with Chinese functionaries.

BJP Spokesperson Sambit Patra took to Twitter to post a picture of Sonia Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi with a Chinese functionary.

Miffed by the tweet, Nikhil Alva, Congress leader and son of Margaret Alva, responded to Sambit Patra with a picture of what he thought was Prime Minister Modi with some Chinese man.

Tweet by Nikhil Alva

It only goes to show the painfully low levels of IQ that one needs to possess to become a Congress foot soldier as Nikhil Alva simply assumed that any individual with Mongoloid features must be a Chinese man.

This photograph is actually from the time when Prime Minister Modi was gifted with the traditional Kyrgyzstan attire by the President of Kyrgyzstan President Jeenbekov. The picture is from June 2019 and was tweeted by the PMO handle on Twitter.

At the time, PMO had tweeted, “In Bishkek, President Jeenbekov presented PM @narendramodi a Kalpak, the traditional Kyrgyz hat, a Chapan, a traditional coat from Kyrgyzstan and a Samovar, a container to heat or boil water”.

Who is Nikhil Alva?

In 2018, Divya Spandana, who used to handle Rahul Gandhi’s social media strategy, was reportedly fired from her job. It was then reported that Divya was ‘upset’ with Congress as much of her role was transferred to Nikhil Alva, son of Congress leader Margaret Alva, limiting her duty.

A 2018 report on Business Standard read, “Former media entrepreneur Nikhil J Alva has been a key individual behind the turnaround. In Congress circles, 48-year-old Alva is known as the ‘gatekeeper’ of Gandhi’s Twitter handle. Alva’s Twitter bio states that he is a “media entrepreneur with the soul of a political activist, who wants to build a just and equitable world”. Alva is the middle of the three sons of senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan governor Margaret Alva. All three brothers, Alva himself, his elder brother Niret and younger brother Nivedith, are well-known media entrepreneurs. Nivedith has also dabbled in politics”

Interestingly, the report had also said that all tweets by Rahul Gandhi’s Twitter handle were first approved by Nikhil Alva. The report further states, “It is Alva who actually presses the ‘tweet’ button, sources said. Gandhi and Alva are just a year apart and were contemporaries at New Delhi’s St Stephen’s College”.

Interestingly, Nikhil Alva was also accused of sexual harassment earlier in 2018. He was charged with stalking and sending vulgar emails, after a complaint was lodged by his neighbour. In the FIR filed against Nikhil Alva, the 47-year-old complainant said, “Nikhil Alva has wilfully, deliberately, intentionally and maliciously posted emails on various groups with unwelcome sexual overtones using highly inappropriate and grossly offensive language despite a clear indication of disinterest from my side and advice to stop using loose expressions, obnoxious language in the emails.”

She had accused Alva of having sent derogatory emails to her on at least 14 occasions.

With Alva now peddling fake news, one should be left with no doubt that the brilliance that emanates from the Twitter handle of Rahul Gandhi is a result of the deadly combination of the wits of Rahul Gandhi and Nikhil Alva.

Rajiv Gandhi Foundation received money from fugitive Mehul Choksi: Here are the details

OpIndia Staff
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Rajiv Gandhi Foundation received money from fugitive Mehul Choksi: Here are the details

In a major development in the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation fund row, it has now been revealed that fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi had made undisclosed donations to the Sonia Gandhi-led Rajiv Gandhi Foundation in 2014-15, reports Times Now. The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation’s chairperson is Sonia Gandhi with Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Manmohan Singh and several others as the trustees.

When one looks at the Annual Reports of the the Rajiv Gandhi foundation received funds from an organisation named Naviraj Estates Private Limited.

Donors of RGF

Mehul Choksi is one of the directors of this company. It is, however, not yet clear how much fund did Rajiv Gandhi Foundation receive from Mehul Choksi.

Company details according to zaubacorp.com

It is important to note that Mehul Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are economic fugitives, who fled the country in 2018 after Rs 14,000-crore PNB fraud surfaced. Choksi got the citizenship of Antigua after fleeing from the country after he was accused in the multi-crore PNB scam.

The new disclosure comes at a time when the Congress party is already facing all the heat over its secret deals with the Communist Party of China (CPC). There have been serious allegations against the Congress party and its interim chief Sonia Gandhi over receiving funds from not only China but also for diverting public money for her private foundation.

China funds Rajiv Gandhi Foundation

On Friday, shocking details had emerged in which it was revealed how the Chinese government had donated funds to ‘Rajiv Gandhi Foundation’ during the UPA era under the garb of charities.

We had reported how the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation had received donations from not just the Embassy of China but also the Government of China not once but at least thrice between 2005 and 2009. One donation amounted to Rs 10 lakhs and another one amounted to Rs 90 lakhs was funded by the Chinese to the Sonia-Gandhi controlled Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.

The Annual Statements of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation had also revealed a far more sinister agenda as it turned out, the Chinese government had not only donated to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation in the year 2006 but subsequent years as well. 

It is pertinent to note that Sonia Gandhi is the Chairperson of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and since the year 2005, of which documents have been reviewed, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were the trustees.

Rajiv Gandhi Foundation received funds from PMNRF

In the year 2005-2006, the Annual Report makes a disclosure that the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation received a donation from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. The same disclosure is also made in the 2006-2007 report. Again in 2007-2008, the Foundation for a ‘donation’ from the PMNRF.

Though the amount of such donation is not clear yet, it is a fact that a donation was indeed made.

The Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) was established in the year 1948. Initially, the purpose of the fund was to provide assistance to displaced people from Pakistan during and right after the partition of India.

The resources of the PMNRF are now utilized primarily to render immediate relief to families of those killed in natural calamities like floods, cyclones and earthquakes, etc. and to the victims of the major accidents and riots.

Not Just China: RGF received funds from other foreign governments too

Over the years, the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation has also received donations from the Governments of Ireland, Luxembourg and the European Union as well. 

Apart from that, the RGF has also received donations from numerous other dubious sources. One of the sources it received a lot of funds from is the Friedrich Naumann Stiftung. FNS is a liberal organisation based in Germany that is closely associated with the liberal political establishment in the country and is a major donor for the RGF.

Ministries of Indian Government donated to RGF during UPA rule

In addition to such organisations, the RGF has also received huge donations from multiple government institutions. The Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund is one of them but their annual reports reveal that RGF received funds from multiple government ministries when the UPA was in power.

The Ministries who were partners with RGF and donated to them include the Ministries of Environment and Forest, Health and Family Welfare, Small Scale Industries and even the Ministry of Home Affairs. All of this is greatly disturbing.

Uttar Pradesh government orders to scrutinise documents of all teachers in aided madarsas in the state after the Anamika Shukla scam

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh government orders to scrutinise documents of all teachers in aided madarsas in the state after the Anamika Shukla scam

Soon after the Anamika Shukla scam was exposed in the Kasturba Gandhi School, the UP government has ordered that all the documents of the teachers from government schools and madarsas will have to be investigated properly. The office of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered to check the certificates of all the clerics of all the Arabic-Persian madrasas funded by the state government.

Director of Minority Department JP Singh has written a letter to Madarsa Education council RP Singh and has ordered to make a plan for checking 558 madarsas in the state.

In a move to fight against corruption, the Yogi government has now decided to take action against teachers whose strings are linked to the fake gang. Meanwhile, Mohsin Raza, Minister of Minority Affairs in the Yogi government has claimed that the appointments made in the madrasas of Uttar Pradesh will also be investigated.

He said that an action plan will be sent against the people who are getting jobs through fake documents in the madarsas. After the Anamika Shukla case came to light, the Yogi government will also be investigating the staff members present in all the schools of Uttar Pradesh.

Mohsin Raza also targeted the Samajwadi Party. He said that the Samajwadi party did massive corruption in Madarsas just for their vote bank and provided benefits to its closed ones. Those found guilty in the investigation will be punished. He also claimed that they have received a lot of complaints against those who are working in madarsas on the basis of fake documents. The state government will now check the service records of all the employees.

Since the Yogi Aditya Nath has taken over the power in UP, many steps have been taken for the bright future of students studying in madarsas. The recent step is also taken for the same purpose. Earlier, the Yogi government had announced to take steps towards the modernization of madarsas. They also announce that the government will also reward of 5000 rupees to talented students of madarsas for boosting their morale.

Apart from this, the UP government had also issued an advisory on higher education in Madarsa recently. According to the rule stated in the advisory, it was also decided that non-speakers of Urdu will also be able to teach in madrassas.

The Anamika Shukla Scam

In the Anamika Shukla scam, one teacher with that name was found to be employed in 25 schools at the same time and had drawn Rs 10 crore as salary in 13 months. The teacher was registered as employed with 25 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas in Amethi, Ambedkarnagar, Raebareli, Prayagraj, Aligarh and other districts in the state. Later during the probe, it was found that the real person named Anamika Shukla is an unemployed woman, and her documents were misused by someone to draw salary in her name from 25 schools. She had said that she had applied for KGB schools in several districts, but she never joined any school. The documents submitted by her while applying for the job were being misused.

It has been revealed that the real Anamika Shukla had cleared the eligibility test but could not join the job due to personal reasons. Her credentials were used by other women to get job in various KGB schools in UP. Several women working as teachers under the name Anamika Shukla has been arrested by UP police since the scam broke, and one Pushpendra, identified as the mastermind behind the scam, has also been arrested. His gang has reportedly given jobs to many other people in a similar fashion. Apart from Anamika Shukla, Police have also discovered multiple teachers with the same name and other details working in various schools, and are verifying the detail for all of them.

Mumbai edition of The Hindu asks its employees to resign citing weak financial condition

OpIndia Staff
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Mumbai edition of The Hindu asks its employees to resign citing weak financial condition

The Mumbai edition of the Hindu newspaper is on the verge of closure. The newspaper has asked its journalists to resign citing the financial situation of the company. The company also assured them to disburse salary for the next three months.

The lockdown due to the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic has hit many businesses. Due to the complete shut down in the last two months, many private entities are facing a gross financial crisis that created unemployment for thousands. Similarly, the impact can also be seen in media houses.

The companies are putting pressure on employees either to cut down their wages or resign. This is the reason that The Hindu, The Telegraph, and Hindustan Times have also sacked many of their employees. More than 100 journalists, sub-editors, and other employees have been asked to resign by their management in the various editions of The Hindu newspaper.

Now more than 20 journalists of Mumbai edition of The Hindu have been asked to resign by the company between 25 to 30 June. The employees are still waiting for a clear statement in this regard from their institution. It is being said that the Mumbai edition of the Hindu is on the verge of closure.

It is notable that The Hindu started the Mumbai edition in 2015 in which it hired several senior journalists. The email which was sent to the journalists asking for their resignation has surfaced on social media.

The above mail was sent to employees on 22 June from the Human Resource department of The Hindu. Citing the weak economic condition of the company, it is officially stated that the employees will be given a salary for three months along with the Dearness allowance and their service period will come to an end on July 1, 2020.

However, apart from writing, it is also being said that some employees were also terminated verbally. Press Council of India has taken Suo-moto cognizance with regard to terminate the services of journalists working at The Hindu office in Mumbai.

Justice CK Prasad, President of the Press Council of India taking Suo-moto cognizance of the matter expressed concern that a large number of journalists working in the daily newspaper ‘The Hindu’ in the Mumbai bureau were asked to resign from their posts. The Press Council also asked the editor of The Hindu, Regional General Manager of The Hindu Mumbai to issue a statement in this regard.

Actress and Rajya Sabha MP Roopa Ganguly demands CBI probe in Sushant Singh Rajput’s death

OpIndia Staff
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Actress and Rajya Sabha MP Roopa Ganguly demands CBI probe in Sushant Singh Rajput’s death

Veteran actress and BJP Member of Parliament Roopa Ganguly on Friday demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who ended his life at his residence in Mumbai on June 14.

The actor-turned-politician Roopa Ganguly took to social media to express her misgivings over the investigation into the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

In a series of tweets, the veteran actress suspected foul play in the ongoing investigation being carried out by the Mumbai police and demanded a CBI enquiry to look into the untimely demise of the Bollywood actor. The actress expressed her shock regarding the manner in which the social media accounts are allegedly active.

The actress raised apprehensions about Sushant Singh Rajput’s phone being operated by someone else as she had picked up strange behaviour from his social media accounts even after his death. She said that the Instagram account of Sushant was unfollowing people after his death, suggesting that someone is operating his social media accounts.

The BJP MP also said that the strange behaviour was quite unsettling and alleged that there has been attempts to tamper evidence related to the case. The actress-turned-lawmaker also questioned when will the CBI intervene in this case.

The actress also said that there needs to be clarity in understanding the discrepancies so that we can not only do justice to such a brilliant and positive soul but to ensure that they could try and eradicate the possibility of such events ever occurring in the future.

“Was the investigation done in a hurry ,trying to justify a pre decided narrative?If not so then why did the forensic team reached on 15th June?” asked the BJP Rajya Sabha MP.

Roopa Ganguly also said even though the reason for death has been certified it does not prove that the death was by hanging of one’s self. On Thursday, the postmortem report of the late actor was handed over to the police which cited his death as a “clear case of suicide with no other foul play”.

“What I cannot understand is why such a brilliant inquisitive mind would choose such an alternative without any provocation,” Ganguly tweeted.

She also tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah in her series of tweets demanding a CBI probe into actor’s death.

“We will be answerable to our future generations if we the parents, the colleagues, the friends and the family and the citizen of India fail to uphold justice now. I think an independent CBI investigation is necessary,” Ganguly tweeted.

The actress also asked why there are so many inconsistencies in reporting of the scene. She also alleged that there has been no clear information in connection with the case and they are being kept in the dark.

Echoing similar suspicion, Journalist Soumyadipta also suggested that the Instagram account of Sushant Singh Rajput was being operated by someone, who is allegedly deleting the images. The journalist also raised suspicion about handling the late actor’s social media accounts at a time when his phones are with the police and his family members do not know the password.

The journalist also posed some tough questions to the Maharashtra police who are investigation the suicide case. Soumyadipta asked why were the CCTVs switched off on the day of death of Sushant Singh Rajput and also asked why were the death marks on his neck were inconsistent with a suicide victim.

The growing suspicion over the death of Sushant Singh Rajput comes after the demand by the family members of the actor along with some political parties to carry out a CBI probe into his death.

The actor was found dead at his Bandra apartment on June 14. The Mumbai police have received the final post-mortem report and the cause of death has been identified as “asphyxia due to hanging”.

Watch: Bishop Scott Girls’ school principal in Patna attacks guardian when questioned fee charged despite schools being shut during lockdown

OpIndia Staff
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Watch: Bishop Scott Girls’ school principal in Patna attacks guardian when questioned fee charged despite schools being shut during lockdown

A video has gone viral on social media in which the school principal of one Bishop Scott Girls’ school in Patna, Bihar, is seen losing her cool on a guardian when questioned over school fees.

One Twitter user with the user name Lone Crusader took to Twitter to share a video where the principal of the private school in Patna attacks a guardian who was trying to film her to expose how the school administration was arbitrarily charging transportation fee and library fee for the months the school remained shut due to the Cironavirus crisis.

In the video, which is being shared widely on social media, the principal of Bishop Scott Girls’ school threatens the guardian who records the conversation between them. She looks visibly miffed with the parent for making a video of their interaction. She warns the parents of dire consequences if she continues to record the meeting.

Bishop Scott Girls’ school principal tries to snatch the phone and slaps the guardian

When the parent does not concede, the principal calls another person to her chamber, who then is seen threatening the parent. He questions the parent whether she would want her daughter to continue studying in the school or not. Meanwhile, the principal is seen getting up from her seat and attacking the guardian sitting across her table. The principal tries to snatch away the phone and allegedly slaps the guardian.

After the video went viral, the Director of Primary Education, Bihar, Ranjit Kumar Singh constituted a two-member investigation team, ordering an inquiry against Patna’s Bishop Scott Girls School.

The Director of Primary Education has categorically stated that during the lockdown, the government had ordered that schools will not charge any transportation fee from parents. Not only this, but the administration also made it clear that during this time the parents will not be forced to pay the school fees. In such a scenario, questions were being raised as to why schools are not following the government advisory and charging the following fees from its students.

Tamil Nadu: Outrage over custodial death of father-son duo, police accused of sexual torture and murder, judicial probe ordered

OpIndia Staff
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Tamil Nadu: Outrage over custodial death of father-son duo, police accused of sexual torture and murder, judicial probe ordered

The death of a father and son-duo in police custody in Tuticorin has generated a huge outrage in Tamil Nadu. P Jayaraj and his son J Benicks reportedly died after they were picked up by the Police for opening their mobile accessories shop open on June 19 when lockdown was still in force in the state. It is alleged that they were tortured in custody, which led to their death.

Chennai based news website The Federal has quoted eyewitnesses who claim that the duo were subjected to sexual torture while in jail. “Between 7 am and 12 pm on June 20, the father and son had changed at least seven lungies each as they had become wet due to blood oozing from their rectums,” Rajkumar, a friend of Benicks, was quoted by the media portal as saying.

The friend also said that thy were instructed to arrange a vehicle for themselves to transport the two to the government hospital in Sathankulam. Then, the father-son duo apparently complained of pain in their rectum. They were also bleeding profusely and their lungis had to be changed on the way to the hospital.

“Thinking the person was Jayaraj, police took him to the station on June 19. Benicks rushed to the station to inquire about it,” said Raja, another friend of Benicks. “After he questioned the police brutality against his father, the policemen held him by his collar and pushed him towards the wall. At least five policemen including the sub-inspector and constables beat him black and blue in front of us,” he added.

People on social media claim that the policemen shoved batons inside the anus of the father and son several times. It is also claimed that their genitalia was also damaged. They were also thrashed brutally in custody, it is alleged.

The Madras High Court has ordered a probe into the matter. “There were complaints that they were killed in police assault..a judicial probe has been ordered,” Tuticorin Collector Sandeep Nanduri said. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami has assured that strict action will be taken based on the findings of the probe.

Benicks passed away at the Kovilpatti General Hospital on June 22 and his father passed in the morning the next day. Meanwhile, two sub-inspectors have been transferred in connection with the matter but the family of the deceased demand that a case of murder be registered against the two.

West Bengal: Son of TMC leader thrashed with broomsticks and shoes by locals for fraudulently obtaining Cyclone Amphan relief fund: Report

OpIndia Staff
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West Bengal: Son of TMC leader thrashed with broomsticks and shoes by locals for fraudulently obtaining Cyclone Amphan relief fund: Report

On Thursday, Uttam, the son of a Trinamool Congress (TMC) member of Dharmapukuria Panchayat in Bangaon was thrashed by the locals with brooms and sticks, reported Anandabazar Patrika. The incident took place in the Sukpukur area where the locals attacked the house of the TMC leader, following allegations of corruption in the disbursement of relief funds for Cyclone Amphan.

Dismissing charges of misappropriation of funds and alleging that the BJP supporters had been behind the attack, the TMC politician Gopal Dey said, “If anyone can prove the allegation of corruption, then, I will thank him personally. My own house has been damaged but I didn’t take the money. Instead, all the affected families in the area have been provided financial assistance.”

Anandabazar Patrika reported that the residents of the village had gone to the house of Dey and thrashed his son Uttam with brooms and shoes. A protestor by the name of Urmila Pal claimed that she did not receive the relief amount of ₹20,000, even though her house was damaged during the Cyclone Amphan. She alleged that people whose houses were unaffected in the natural disaster had somehow siphoned off the money.

Protestors had alleged that even though the house of Gopal Dey did not suffer any damage, yet he was a beneficiary of the relief fund. They demanded that the TMC member has to return the money or pay compensation to all the families in the village. The protestors, comprising mostly of women, informed that Uttam was thrashed by them after they saw him beating his own mother.

Deputy chief of Dharmapukuria panchayat Sukdev Shikari told Anandabazaar Patrika, “A list of all victims of Cyclone Amphan has been prepared. The owners of completely damaged houses have received the money. Partially damaged homeowners had not yet received financial assistance in the block.” He assured that stringent action would be taken against those found involved in corruption. Sukdev conceded that a family received double the assured sum but clarified that the mistake had been corrected.

BJP distances himself from the attack

In his defence, BJP’s co-president (Barasat) Devdas Mandal said that the attack was carried out by a group of villagers who did not receive their due share of compensation and that the party had nothing to do with it. There have been widespread protests in several districts, following allegations of corruption and misappropriation of funds on the part of TMC panchayat members. The demonstrations were accompanied by the public humiliation of the accused, vandalism, and obstruction.

TMC Panchayat member publicly shamed for irregularities in compensation distribution

In a similar incident this week, TMC leader and panchayat member Swapan Kumar Ghatu was was gheraoed by the residents of Kailashpur village in South 24 Paraganas and held hostage at a local school playground for illegally receiving compensation amount, originally meant for the victims of Cyclone Amphan. The locals had alleged that the TMC politician had siphoned off relief funds by listing his family members as the beneficiaries. Later talking to media , Swapan Kumar Ghatu conceded that there were anomalies in compensation distribution. He said that there were some mistakes in preparing the list of beneficiaries, and he apologised for the same.

CM Mamata Banerjee orders probe in all allegations

Due to growing allegations of misappropriation of cyclone compensation funds by TMC leaders, West Benagl CM Mamata Banerjee has ordered probe into the allegations. According to reports, CM Mamata Banerjee informed Chief Secretary Rajiv Singh that she had received the said complaints through her sources and directed him to look into every allegation and take appropriate action. The report said that a majority of complaints were about the distribution of funds for farmers and house reconstruction. 

Reportedly, the State Chief Minister had also learnt about the ‘partiality’ displayed by officials in reconnecting power lines in several areas. The government officials had also informed that all complaints received by Prashant Kishore’s organisation, regarding the distribution of relief funds, had been communicated to Mamata Banerjee. The CM has said that corruption in the distribution of relief funds would not be tolerated. About 5-6 Block Development Officers (BDOs) from Hooghly, North 24 Parganas, and South 24 Parganas have been handed show-cause notices, following complaints of misappropriation of funds. If the response to the show-cause notice turned out to be unsatisfactory, then, stringent action would be taken against the said officials. 

Mamata Banerjee on June 6 had warned her party workers against politicising relief work. She had reiterated that relief funds for both Coronavirus and Cyclone Amphan must reach all victims irrespective of party affiliation. Besides warning of dire consequences if found involved in corruption, West Bengal Chief Minister had advised the party leaders not to get involved in relief work and leave it to the administration.

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