Home Blog Page 4435

Mob barges into Machhindranath temple and chants ‘Allahu Akbar’ to disrupt aarti, reports Shiv Sena mouthpiece: Know the story behind viral video

Jinit Jain
-
0
Mob barges into Machhindranath temple and chants ‘Allahu Akbar’ to disrupt aarti, reports Shiv Sena mouthpiece: Know the story behind viral video

About 50 to 60 Muslim fanatics barged into the ancient temple of Machhindranath perched atop the Malang Gad fort and chanted “Allahu Akbar” slogans to disrupt the ongoing aarti performed by Hindu devotees, a report published in Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana said.

According to the report, on March 28, Hindu devotees were performing the traditional aarti (Hindu religious ritual of worship) when scores of Muslims entered the Machhindranath temple and tried to disrupt the proceedings. The enraged mob shouted slogans of “Allahu Akbar” and shoved around Hindus in the temple, in an attempt to stop them from performing their annual tradition.

The video of the scuffle has now gone viral on the internet. In the video, scores of Muslims could be seen intimidating the Hindu devotees against performing their rituals while shouting “Allahu Akbar”.

Source: YouTube

Every year, Machindranath’s devotees undertake a religious journey called Magh Pournima Shrimalang Yatra to the Malang Gad fort for paying their obeisance to Machhindranath. However, due to the coronavirus outbreak, this year’s yatra was cancelled.

But on Shiv Sena’s insistence, Hindus were allowed to perform all the religious rituals at Machhindranath’s temple as per Hindu traditions. As per the government rules—annual bath, palanquin, gandhlepan, naivedya, maha aarti—were allowed to be performed in the presence of 50 devotees including government officials and other dignitaries.

However, this did not sit well with the fanatics in the region and they hatched a plan to disrupt the aarti. As soon as the Hindu organizations came to know about this, they informed the police about it. Police allowed only seven Hindu devotees to enter the temple for Aarti, citing coronavirus restrictions. Just five minutes after the aarti commenced, a violent mob of 50-60 Muslim fanatics entered the temple and shouted slogans of “Allahu Akbar”, asking Hindus to stop performing their rituals.

Hindu organisations complained to the Hill Road police station against the rabble-rousers who had burst into the temple and attempted to disrupt the aarti. However, the police assured that they would only investigate without filing a case. The Hindu groups gave an ultimatum of 4 days to the police to investigate the incident and arrest the perpetrators, failing which they would launch a widespread agitation.

The incident took place at 8 pm on 28 March. It is being reported when the police tried to intervene, the members of the Muslim mob grabbed the collar of the policemen and pushed them. Four people have been arrested in the case so far.

The longstanding dispute between Hindus and Muslims over the ownership of the place

Hindu devotees believe the place is the resting place of Baba Machhindranath of the Nath sect and that the Peshwas had entrusted a Brahmin family named Ketkar to perform the puja there. Every year Hindu rituals are worshipped here, especially on Magh Purnima when a grand aarti is organised.

However, the Muslims claim that it is the shrine of Sufi Fakir Haji Abdul Rahman Shah Malang aka Malang Baba. They claim he came to the place from Yemen in the 13th century.

Ajaz Khan, who has now been arrested by NCB, had mocked Arnab Goswami after he spoke about the Bollywood drug nexus case

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Ajaz Khan, who has now been arrested by NCB, had mocked Arnab Goswami after he spoke about the Bollywood drug nexus case

Controversial actor Ajaz Khan was arrested by the NCB earlier today in connection with its investigation into the Bollywood drug nexus case. He is reportedly accused of being a member of the Shadab Batata gang.

Ironically, Ajaz Khan had mocked Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami due to the latter’s coverage of the same case. The actor had mocked the journalist for his ‘Drug Do’ clip which had gone viral on the internet.

Ajaz Khan mocked Arnab Goswami
Ajaz Khan mocked Arnab Goswami

Reportedly, the NCB has also conducted raids at various locations related to the actor. The actor was taken into custody after he returned to Mumbai from Rajasthan. Ajaz Khan has found himself on the wrong side of the law earlier as well. He was arrested by the Mumbai Police in April 2020 for communal remarks he made in a Facebook Live video.

In another shocking video, Ajaz Khan was seen abusing journalists Arnab Goswami, Rajat Sharma and Sudhir Choudhary and wishing that they had their respective families get infected with coronavirus.

On April 15, 2020, the serial abuser went live on his Facebook account, and in his 8.26 long video, he not only blamed BJP and PM Modi for being biased against the Muslims of the country but hit out at senior journalists like Arnab Goswami, Rajat Sharma and Zee News editor Sudhir Choudhary for being BJP stooges. He tried to provoke the Muslims by saying that their community is being targeted and hexed for every transgression happening anywhere in the country.

He was arrested by Anti-Narcotics Cell of Navi Mumbai for possessing drugs. He later got out on bail. He was arrested in 2016 too for sending lewd and vulgar messages to a hair stylist. In the past, Ajaz Khan has indulged in promoting hate speech through his Facebook account which could disturb the communal harmony in the country.

U.K. Tourism Minister asks citizens to ‘resist temptation’ of hugging their loved ones, urges to call out people who do so

OpIndia Staff
-
0
U.K. Tourism Minister asks citizens to ‘resist temptation’ of hugging their loved ones, urges to call out people who do so

United Kingdom’s Tourism and Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston in an interview with BBC Breakfast, called upon people to not “risk the health of your loved ones” through “actually hugging them and risk the spread of the disease (COVID-19)”.

The Minister then went on to make a redundant statement, “Of course when you’re hugging someone, you’re in incredibly close proximity to them.” The U.K. Minister further went on, exhorting people to intervene if they witness “someone behaving in an odd way”.

“We all know the rules…if you see somebody behaving in a slightly odd way, then maybe call them out on it in a respectful way, because sometimes some people just forget,” Nigel Huddleston said in the same segment in which he asks people to resist the temptation of hugging their loved ones.

Huddleston later added that refusing physical contact was “a little bit awkward” but the right thing to do in these circumstances. It has been over a year since the COVID-19 pandemic spread throughout the world.

The U.K. Minister’s statement has drawn reactions ranging from disbelief to laughter to scorn.

“In other words………. “If you see someone behaving like a human being then call them out on it””, said one Twitter user.

“Does he realize how ridiculous he sounds? So in theory he wants people to pull up others if they are seen to be participating in that most dangerous of activities, hugging their relatives? What a sad world this is becoming”, said another.

Many were defiantly against the Minister’s comments with one particular Twitter user saying, “I’m seeing my kids next weekend for the first time since the end of December! Wild horses wouldn’t stop me hugging them!”

The U.K. Minister made his remarks yesterday on the day when the U.K. moved towards easing their COVID-19 lockdown, with outdoor sports facilities, including tennis courts and golf courses, and weddings/gatherings of up to 6 people allowed outside.

Watch: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee greeted with ‘Jai Shri Ram’ on her visit to Nandigram

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Watch: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee greeted with ‘Jai Shri Ram’ on her visit to Nandigram

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee was on Tuesday greeted with ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans by BJP supporters while she was on a visit to Reyapara in Nandigram, where she had been camping for the past two days. Mamata was apparently paying a visit to a TMC worker who was allegedly beaten up and injured when slogans of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ were raised by the BJP supporters.

The TMC chief was seen comfortably snuggled in her wheelchair as she was escorted to the TMC worker’s house amidst chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’. Ms Banerjee is going to fight the upcoming assembly polls from the Nandigram constituency, a stronghold of BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari. She has been camping in the region for the past several days.

In a separate incident, it was reported today that BJP party workers in Jalpaiguri were assaulted for raising ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans during Holi celebrations. Speaking about the incident, BJP leader Subhash Rai said the chanting of ‘Jai Shree Ram’ slogans while playing Holi irked the TMC goons, who then attacked the BJP karyakartas and also vandalised the party office in the district. A vehicle belonging to a BJP worker was also damaged in the ensuing violence.

Mamata Banerjee opposes ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans

Not just party workers, but the party chief Mamata Banerjee has also expressed strong objection to the chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’. In January 2021, Mamata Banerjee was seen walking out of the stage refusing to address the public gathered at Kolkata’s Victoria Memorial for Netaji birth anniversary celebrations.

WB CM Mamata Banerjee, who was sharing the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, refused to address the gathering and lamented of “being disrespected” because she could not stand the slogans of Jai Shree Ram, Bharat Mata ki Jai, etc when she was invited to address the event.

Lashing out after hearing ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans, Mamata Banerjee lamented before walking off the stage: “Inviting people and then disrespecting them does not behove the government. This is a government programme, not a political party’s programme”.

West Bengal: Former cricketer and BJP candidate Ashok Dinda suffers injuries after attack while returning from campaigning

OpIndia Staff
-
0
West Bengal: Former cricketer and BJP candidate Ashok Dinda suffers injuries after attack while returning from campaigning

Attacks on BJP leaders and worker are being carried out unchecked in the poll-bound West Bengal. In the latest incident, former cricketer and BJP candidate from Moyna, Ashok Dinda, was attacked by unidentified people in his constituency. Dinda was campaigning in his constituency for the ongoing Assembly elections in the state, when his car was attacked with stones and sticks.

Pictures tweeted by news agency ANI shows the rear windscreen of the SUV in which Dinda was campaigning hit by a stone. The stone along with shards of glass could be seen scattered on the rear seat of the vehicle. The backside of the car was also damaged in the incident.

In one picture shared by ANI, Dinda could be seen sitting on a bench somewhere after the incident with his hand on the neck.

Speaking to Zee24Ghanta, Dinda said that he was going back home after campaigning at Moyna, when miscreants surrounded his car and started pelting bricks and stones. A brick went through the windscreen and hit the former cricketer on his neck. “I have sustained injuries on my hands and legs. I somehow managed to escape the attack”, said the BJP leader.

The former Indian cricketer had joined BJP in February this year. Dinda was formally inducted into the party in presence of the Union Minister Babul Supriyo and state BJP vice president Arjun Singh at a public meeting in Kolkata.

‘Do what needs to be done,’ Mamata Banerjee incites Nandigram residents to engage in mob violence: Here’s everything she said

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘Do what needs to be done,’ Mamata Banerjee incites Nandigram residents to engage in mob violence: Here’s everything she said

Ahead of the second phase of West Bengal State Legislative polls, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday was seen advocating ‘mob justice’ and inciting the people of Nandigram to unleash violence against her political rival BJP.

While addressing a large gathering in Nandigram, Mamata Banerjee cast aspersions about the BJP and the possibility of them creating social unrest during the polls. Presuming that her rival party will indulge in anti-social activities, the West Bengal CM incited the people to bypass the law and order system and take the matter into their own hands.

At about 6 minutes into her speech, she said, “From today, don’t allow the goons (referring to the BJP) to enter (your locality). After the clock strikes 6 pm, bid goodbye to all outsiders. Only insiders will remain after 6 o’clock.” In a bid to instil fear and lay the foundation for ‘mob justice’, Banerjee referred to the BJP as ‘outsiders’.and ‘goons’.

West Bengal CM instigates people to take law into their own hands

Mamata Banerjee then drew inspiration from the protests that took place in the aftermath of police brutality in Nandigram in 2007. While perpetuating fear in the minds of people that the BJP could unleash a similar form of brutality, she emphasised, “Ek jot hoye berhoben…Ekta loker gayae haath dile, ekta mayer gaye haath dile, lokho maa hatha kunti niye berhobe (Leave your homes in groups. If they touch anyone, especially a woman, lacs of mothers will come out with kitchen utensils in their hand)”.

(Video Courtesy: Youtube/News18 Bangla)

She further added, “If they attack any man, then, all the elderly must unite in groups.” While gloating over the idea of violence, the West Bengal Chief Minister stated, “Ami dekhte chai khela ke haare aar khela ke jeete (I want to see who loses this game (of violence) and who wins.) Mamata Banerjee did not stop here. She suggested that the people take action against ‘outsider’ security personnel, who don’t comply with them.

Do what needs to be done against security personnel, says Mamata Banerjee

“They can scare you for a maximum of 2 days. Only two days left (for polling). Listen to the security personnel, who have come from outside, for just these 2 days… I will request them to work impartially,” she recommended. Soon after, there was a change in the tone of the incumbent West Bengal CM. “Jodi na kore, maa boune ra jot badbhen, maa bone re jaa korar korben (If they don’t comply, then, all mothers and daughters join together and do what needs to be done),” she warned 9:42 minutes into the speech.

Mamata Banerjee then accused the BJP of perpetuating fear and resorting to hooliganism. “Did you lose the game/match already? Is this why you are resorting to goondaism and instilling fear in people?” she asked. And thereafter, the West Bengal CM threatened to teach BJP a lesson over their supposed ‘hooliganism’. “Oi gundami chur maar kore debo amra bhenge. Gundami amra sojjo korbo na. Ami jaani kara kara gundami te modot dichhe (We will thrash this behaviour out of you. We have no tolerance for hooliganism. I know who are aiding in such behaviour.),” she cautioned the BJP.

Mamata Banerjee takes a U-turn on vengeful rhetorics

Furthermore, Mamata Banerjee claimed that the BJP would create Hindu-Muslim divide by throwing meat outside temples. She asked the people of Nandigram to stay vigilant and warned that a group of BJP workers might land at their village at night. Although she initially suggested them to ambush the men and hand them over to the police, Banerjee soon took a U-turn.

“10 ta biker er khomota bodo na ekta gram er 1000 jon er khomota bodo. Kunta bodo ami dekhte chai (Who has more power? Those 10 BJP bikers or 1000 villagers. I want to see which is stronger),” the West Bengal CHief Minister gave a reassuring call for mob justice. She also decided to incentivise taking law and order into one’s own hand. “Whoever (mother/daughter) does this great work (teach them a lesson), I will reward them from my party after the election,” Mamata Banerjee announced.

West Bengal CM gives veiled threats to Amit Shah

Towards the end of her speech, she also issued veiled threats to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Mamata Banerjee asserted, “Era 2 din baade chole jabe. Thakbo amrai. Amrai sobta korbo. Ata mathai rakhben (He will leave after 2 days. We are here to stay. Keep this in your mind)”. She also hinted that political violence against BJP might increase after Amit Shah leaves Nandigram. “After 48 hours, you won’t be here. you will not come back,” she was elated.

‘BJP will kill a woman from its own party’: Mamata Banerjee peddles bizarre theory

In another speech, the West Bengal alleged, “They (BJP) have a plan to kill a woman from their own party. As you know, they had brought goons from Uttar Pradesh (to Bengal). They will make those goons torture her, blame the State and divide the Hindus and Muslims. Remember this is the plan of the thugs that have come from Bihar, and Rajasthan.”

After accusing the BJP of conspiring to kill its own party member using ‘goons’ from Bihar, UP and Rajasthan, Mamata Banerjee was seen doing damage control. “I am not calling Biharis and UPites, goons. I am only talking about those who have come here to do hooliganism, and torture women at the behest of the BJP. Keep an eye on them and be aware. Do not allow them to play their dirty game (khela),” she added.

This bizarre statement by Mamata Banerjee comes on the very day that the wife of a BJP worker was raped by TMC goons and is lying in a critical condition in hospital, according to reports.

Vatican official offered businessman a prostitute to say ‘thank you’ for brokering £300 million deal: Report

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Vatican official offered businessman a prostitute to say ‘thank you’ for brokering £300 million deal: Report

A Vatican official offered a prostitute to a businessman as a show of gratitude for brokering a £300 million deal to buy the landmark Chelsea block office in West London, the High Court was told. Gianluigi Torzi served as the middleman in negotiations over the property earmarked for luxury flats.

Torzi has claimed that Vatican lay official Fabrizio Tirabassi tried to thank him by offering a prostitute but he declined the same. Tirabassi also threatened his life and the lives of his children, Torzi said in written evidence to the Court.

The 42 year old businessman also claimed that Tirabassi had boasted of blackmailing clergymen which prompted him to report the matter to Pope Francis. Earlier, the judge had slammed Vatican prosecutors for misrepresenting the investment into the real estate deal in front of the court.

The Vatican had alleged that it was cheated when they had to spend £300 million for the building in 2018, claiming that the same had been sold for £129 million six years earlier. Torzi, along with Tirabassi, senior cleric Monsignor Alberto Perlasca and London financier Raffaello Mincione, were accused of conspiring to “fleece the church jurisdiction out of millions in fees in negotiations, but Judge Tony Baumgartner last week reversed a decision to seize his bank accounts and awarded him legal fees”, the Daily Mail reported.

The property’s previous owner has denied any wrongdoing on his part and filed two separate legal cases against the Holy See, the central governing body of the Catholic Church.

‘I do not consider there is reasonable cause to believe that Mr Torzi has benefited from criminal conduct,’ as the Vatican alleged, the Judge reportedly wrote.

Forest officer had threatened with SC/ST Act: All you need to know about death of Maharashtra’s ‘Lady Singham’ and her suicide note

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Forest officer had threatened with SC/ST Act: All you need to know about death of Maharashtra’s ‘Lady Singham’ and her suicide note

A 28-year-old Range Forest Officer, popularly known as Maharashtra’s “Lady Singham”, committed suicide by shooting herself with her service revolver on Thursday last week. Dipali Chavan-Mohite shot herself at her official quarters in the Harisal village near the tiger reserve. Her blood-splattered body was recovered later by her relatives and colleagues. She was 5 months pregnant at the time of her death.

A purported suicide note recovered from the slain officer said she was drawn to suicide after being subjected to sexual harassment and torture at the hands of a senior Indian Forest Service(IFS) officer. In her letter, Mohite, a female Range Forest Officer posted in the Melghat Tiger Reserve (MRT) in Maharashtra’s Amravati, pleaded with the authorities to take strict action against the Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Vinod Shivkumar so that nobody else should suffer her ordeal.

The suicide note also details how Shivkumar abused his position, harassed her sexually and inflicted mental trauma on her for the past few months.

From sexual harassment to physical torture and intimidation of falsely implicating her in SC-ST act: Dipali Chavan narrates her ordeal in the suicide note

As per reports, on several occasions in the past, Dipali had officially lodged complaints against Shivkumar with his senior MTR Field Director, MS Reddy (IFS), who allegedly ignored her pleas and reportedly sided with the accused DCF. Dipali also pointed out Shivkumar’s alcoholism, his use of abusive and foul language for her in private and public, sexual advances and oblique hints at getting physical.

However, as she continued to spurn him, the senior officer reportedly could not withstand the rejection from his junior and punished her in the form of difficult assignments, punishing work schedules, abuses, and once even withholding her salary for a month.

She has also accused Shivkumar of not allowing her to go to Amravati to be with her family even once during the month. “He asks me to meet him at late hours in the night and speaks to me in obscene language. Many times he called me to the tourist complex and even at the Akot diversion and tried to take undue advantage of my being alone with him. He is punishing me for not submitting to his whims,” she has said.

Additionally, the slain forest officer has also accused Shivkumar of threatening her of slapping provisions of the SC-ST Act against her. In her letter, Dipali narrates an incident when some locals in Mangia village had threatened her with the SC-ST Act. When she informed Shivkumar about the incident, instead of supporting her, the IFS officer said he would see to it that the SC-ST Act applies against her and she is sent to jail under its provisions.

“On March 7, 2020, when I was busy removing forest encroachments at Mangia village, some local people abused us and locked us up in a house. When I informed Shivkumar, he said that I was lying and staging a drama. When I told him that the villagers were threatening to register offence against me under the Atrocities Act, Shivkumar said I would myself call the SP and tell him to apply atrocity to you and will see how you feel spending four months in jail,” Dipali’s note read, adding, “my mobile has a recording of this conversation with him.”

As per one of Dipali’s colleagues, in February 2020, Shivkumar had forced Dipali, who was then pregnant, to accompany him on a gruelling 3-day forest patrol, walking or driving hundreds of kilometres, ignoring her condition. As a consequence, after returning from the forest, she suffered a miscarriage that pushed her into a deep depression.

IFS officer Shivkumar arrested, his superior MS Reddy suspended

When asked about the shocking incident, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar vowed a thorough investigation in the matter. “A thorough probe is ordered and all angles will be covered. No guilty will be spared,” Pawar said.

The IPS officer Vinod Shivkumar was apprehended the next day from the Nagpur railway station while he was waiting to board Rajdhani Express to Bengaluru. He was subsequently transported to Amravati for further formalities. Following his arrest, the state government suspended Gugamal deputy conservator of forests(DyCF) Vinod Shivkumar. Shivkumar was produced before the court on Monday that sent him to judicial custody till March 30.

In addition, MS Reddy was also suspended from his position as the field director and APCCF of Melghat Tiger Reserve. Reddy was suspended after Dipali’s note accused him of shielding Shivkumar and ignoring her previous complaints of workplace sexual harassment.

Known as ‘Lady Singham’ for her daring audacity to take on the local forest mafias

After joining the Maharashtra forest department, Dipali rose into prominence for her bold and unsparing action against the local forest mafias. Her heavy-handed approach in dealing with the illegal encroachments in forests earned her the nickname of “Lady Singham”.

Dipali had created a sensation in the police force five years ago when she chased in her official car a gang of four smugglers that were escaping to Madhya Pradesh on a train. At the next station, she intercepted the smugglers trying to get away with five tonnes of a valuable jungle produce ‘lac’, arrested them, confiscated the consignment and brought the accused back to Maharashtra.

Known for her integrity and unparalleled dedication towards her duty, Dipali inspired terror and fear among the forest mafias. On many occasions, Dipali had caught forest mafias red-handed for poaching small and big animals.

NCB arrests Ajaz Khan, who said he will keep Quran above Constitution, in connection with Bollywood drug nexus investigation

OpIndia Staff
-
0
NCB arrests Ajaz Khan, who said he will keep Quran above Constitution, in connection with Bollywood drug nexus investigation

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has taken actor Ajaz Khan into its custody, ABP News has reported. Reportedly, the NCB has also conducted raids at various locations related to the actor. The actor was taken into custody after he returned to Mumbai from Rajasthan.

Ajaz Khan is reportedly accused of being a member of the Batata gang. Shadab Batata, son of Farooq Batata, was arrested earlier by the NCB and drugs worth Rs. 2 crores was reportedly recovered from the same. Shadab Batata is accused of supplying drugs to Bollywood celebrities.

Ajaz Khan has found himself on the wrong side of the law earlier as well. He was arrested by the Mumbai Police in April 2020 for communal remarks he made in a Facebook Live video.

In his Facebook Live video, Ajaz Khan had essentially said, “If an ant dies, a Muslim is responsible, if an elephant dies, a Muslim is responsible. If there is an earthquake in Delhi, a Muslim is responsible, i.e a Muslim is responsible for any incident. But have you ever thought who is responsible for this conspiracy?”

He had found himself in a controversy after he had claimed that he will choose Quran over Indian Constitution ‘any day any time’. The controversial actor had received support from Congress leader Hardik Patel as well.

The NCB has been investigating the Bollywood drug nexus in the aftermath of the death of Sushant Singh Rajput. Various actors and actresses have been summoned and questioned regarding the same. Some were arrested as well.

MobiKwik issues statement denying allegations of data breach, subtly blames users for the leak: Details

Anurag
-
0
MobiKwik issues statement denying allegations of data breach, subtly blames users for the leak: Details

After MobiKwik received widespread criticism over the alleged breach that caused data leak of over 3.5 million users, the company has again denied the allegation. In its statement, MobiKwik said that it is a ‘Truly Indian Payments App’ that is currently being used by 100 Million Indians and built by 350 Indians. MobiKwik claimed that it takes data security very seriously and “is fully compliant with applicable data security laws.”

MobiKwik detailed out data security measures it takes

In the statement, MobiKwik said that it has robust internal policies and information security protocols. It follows stringent compliance measures under its PCI-DSS, CISA, and ISO 27001:2013 certifications. “These include annual security audits and quarterly penetration tests to ensure the security of its platform. Under ISO 29147 Responsible Vulnerability Disclosure Program, it has a long-running Bugs Bounty program, where ethical hackers report security issues which are immediately fixed,” they added. 

The indirect blame on users

In the statement, what everyone found bizarre was the fact that MobiKwik tried to blame the users. It said some users have reported that their data is visible on the dark web. Though they are investigating the matter, “it is entirely possible that any user could have uploaded her/ his information on multiple platforms. Hence, it is incorrect to suggest that the data available on the dark web has been accessed from MobiKwik or any identified source.”

Netizens did not take the blame lightly criticized MobiKwik further for its stand. Sunny Nehra, Admin at Hacks And Security, said, “So in short you meant to say the users are responsible for this data leak and not MobiKwik. Well, the #mobikwik account creation date of users match with that in leaked data. The name convention of files, other info (like phnumber@ nocash. MobiKwik. com) all is coincidental.”

While talking to OpIndia about the leak and the statement issued by MobiKwik, Nehra said Indian companies should start accepting the mistake rather than blaming their users, directly or indirectly.

“The intimidation can work once or twice, but in the long run, it will hurt the company itself,” he said. Nehra said MobiKwik is a perfect case study to learn how not to handle data breaches or acknowledgment of breaches. “Denied the breach even after evidence, threatened the security researchers who brought it to light and blaming the users or victims whose data got leaked,” he added.

S Vaibhav asked If MobiKwik is blaming its users to save themselves from the breach?

Several other users showed their amazement over the blame-shifting by MobiKwik.

MobiKwik will get a third party forensic data security audit

In its statement, MobiKwik further added though they could not find any data breach when the issue was first reported, keeping the seriousness of the allegations in mind, they will get a third party to conduct a forensic data security audit. “Considering the seriousness of the allegations, and by way of abundant caution, it will get a third party to conduct a forensic data security audit,” they said.

‘The accounts and balances are safe’ claimed MobiKwik

Claiming that the company is committed to a safe and secure Digital India, MobiKwik said that all the accounts and balances on the platform are entirely safe. “All financially sensitive data is stored in encrypted form in our databases. No misuse of your wallet balance, credit card or debit card is possible without the one-time-password (OTP) that only comes to your mobile number,” they added while urging people not to open anonymous or dark web links as they could jeopardize users’ cyber safety.

If the breach happened, MobiKwik should come out clean

As the company has mentioned, it is planning to get a third-party audit, which can be seen as a welcoming step. However, the current stand and recent statement by the MobiKwik officials are adding more doubt to the minds of already panicked customers. When we are talking about millions of users, such a data breach cannot be taken lightly. MobiKwik should have got the third party audit at the time when it was reported the first time.

In our previous report, we mentioned that reports suggest the hackers have claimed that they are in contact with the company, and the sale was on hold for the time. Instead of throwing the users under the bus, MobiKwik could have skipped blame-shifting and end the statement to mention that they are getting a third-party audit.

1...4,4344,4354,436...7,656Page 4,435 of 7,656