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Cyber Virus Stealing Credit Card Details Using COVID-19 Information: CBI

Cerberus: The stolen data could be used to make unauthorized transactions (Representational)New Delhi: A malicious software called Cerberus is stealing financial data such as credit card details by luring people with COVID-19 related information, the Central Bureau of Investigation has warned states, Union territories and agencies after receiving Interpol inputs."CBI alerts State/UT/Central Agencies on a malicious software threat that uses an update related to the Coronavirus pandemic," the investigation agency said in a statement.The Trojan virus contacts smartphone users via text messages and asks to click on a link saying it will provide COVID-19 updates. When clicked, the link installs a malicious application on their phones, which extracts sensitive financial data."Based on inputs received from INTERPOL, the CBI has issued an alert relating to a banking Trojan known as Cerberus. This malicious software takes advantage of COVID-19 Pandemic to impersonate and send SMS using the lure of COVID-19 related content to download the embedded malicious link, which deploys its malicious app usually spread via phishing campaigns to trick users into installing it on their smartphones," agency said."This Trojan primarily focuses on stealing financial data such as credit card numbers. In addition, it can use overlay attacks to trick victims into providing personal information and can capture two-factor authentication details," it added.The stolen data could be used to make unauthorized transactions from the compromised credit cards.On April 7, the CBI's Interpol division had sent an advisory to police departments across the country, alerting about a cyber attack on hospitals and health installations."Cyber criminals are using ransomware to hold hospitals and medical services digitally hostage; preventing them from accessing vital files and systems until a ransom is paid," it said.The agency had asked the police to remain vigilant.Last month, the central government had warned the users of the Zoom video conference application, saying it was not a safe platform. The application is being widely used for personal and official interactions as people have been asked to stay at and work from home because of the coronavirus pandemic."Zoom is not a safe platform even for usage of individuals a detailed advisory has already been issued by CERT-India," the home ministry had said in an advisory.The guidelines, the government had said, would prevent unauthorised entry in the conference room and even malicious activity by authorised participants on terminals of the other participants. Read the full article

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Whistleblower Haris Khan Says BoisLockerRoom Not The Only One, Couldn't Keep Silent

Haris Khan first thought he would make a confession page, make the boys apologise but dropped the ideaNew Delhi: Online communities like "Bois Locker Room" are commonplace, the 21-year-old man credited with exposing the Instagram group on which obscene messages and morphed photos of underage girls were shared by school students told NDTV on Thursday."This is very common. I couldn't stay silent when I found out about this one. It had to be made an example," said Haris Khan, who shared the graphic screenshots with the girls targeted on the group.Haris said he found out about the group from one of its members who alerted a girl whose pictures were being shared and also told Haris about what was happening.Haris first thought he would make a confession page and make the boys apologise but then dropped the idea and decided to alert the girls instead. He then left it to them to decide what they wanted to do."At first, the girls were very shocked and didn't know how to react. Then overnight, they gathered the courage to unite and do something about it," he said."These groups are very common. It is nothing new. When I was in school, I too was added to several such groups," Haris said.When we asked why he thought the trend persists, he said it is because young boys are not taught to respect women.A Class 12 student, above 18, was arrested on Wednesday for starting Bois Locker Room. The teen studies in a Noida school and sat for the Class 12 exams this year. Several other students of prominent Delhi schools have been questioned and their phones have been seized.The police said they have identified 27 members of the group - some were underage and some 18 and older.Sources say the students mostly claimed that they did not know much about the group and they had been added to it by others.The chatroom, exposed on Sunday by a girl targeted in the grisly group chats, has drawn massive anger, shock and disgust on social media. Class 11 and 12 students casually discussed "gang-raping" girls, sexualized and slut-shamed them in screenshots of chats that have gone viral on Twitter and other social media forums.It is believed that some of the participants were as young as 13, which has seeded a debate on toxic masculinity and objectification of girls starting in schools and the need for greater control over the internet activity of children.In a statement, Facebook-owned Instagram said the objectionable content that violated its community standards was removed as soon as it was made aware of it. Read the full article

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"Top Terrorist Commander Trapped, Encounter On", Says J&K Police

Top terrorist commander reported killed in encounter in south Kashmir this morning (File)Srinagar: A top terrorist commander has been pinned down by security forces conducting an anti-terrorist operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Awantipora area.According to a J&K Police spokesperson the operation was launched late Tuesday night and heavy firing is currently going on as security forces target the house in which the terrorist commander is believed to be hiding. Sources have said the terrorist is a high-ranking commander of terror group Hizbul Mujahideen and one of Kashmir's most wanted.Sources have also said the commander and an accomplice have both been killed but officials have refused to confirm this. However, soon after the encounter started, mobile internet service was suspended in Kashmir."Contact established in the third operation at Awantipur. Top terrorist commander is trapped. Exchange of fire on. Details shall follow," J&K Police tweeted at 9.07 am. Minutes earlier the police tweeted: "Third operation launched by Awantipur Police last night on a specific input too is in progress at Beigpora Awantipora. Senior officers monitoring since last night".Contact established in the third operation at #Beighpors#Awantipur. Top terrorist commander is trapped. Exchange of fire on. Details shall follow.. https://t.co/umZv0JgVbs— J&K Police (@JmuKmrPolice) May 6, 2020According to police the terrorist being targeted is a key figure in recruiting locals into terrorism and is also involved in a number of others cases, including the killing of special police officers and threating J&K Police officials into resignation.In 2018 terror threats and attacks on SPOs (special police officers) led to a number of resignations, as well as those of police officers in violence-hit Shopian and Pulwama districts.The real threat comes from foreign terror outfits like the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.Over the past month at least 22 members of the country's security forces, including army officers, have been killed in the Kashmir Valley. This sudden spike in encounters, coming amid reports of infiltration by highly-trained terrorists from Pakistan, poses a major security challenge even as the country fights the COVID-19 crisis.On Sunday two senior Army officers - a colonel and a major - were among five security personnel killed in action during an encounter in J&K's Kupwara district. A sub-inspector and two soldiers also lost their lives. On Monday, there was an attack on a CRPF (central reserve police force) team in the same area that led to three personnel being killed.J&K Police have said that three separate anti-militancy operations have been launched in the south Kashmir area. This morning one terrorist was killed during a joint operation by the Army and police. Read the full article

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A Maharashtra Minister's Message To The State

This week, we celebrate 60 years of the formation of the state of Maharashtra. I extend my best wishes to every Maharashtrian and my deepest gratitude to everyone who is bravely battling for us against COVID-19.Maharashtra Divas is celebrated with pride and celebration across Marathi households. Together, we remember the struggles of our united past and rejoice in the establishment of our shared legacy through language, culture and statehood. As we step into the 60th year of our glorious state in these difficult and dark times, it is important to introspect and remember where we come from, where we are and the goal towards which are we marching.Maharashtra has always been a base for social reformists, thinkers, intellectuals and activists. In Medieval India, reform was ushered in the field of devotion through Bhakti Marg and Varkari Sampraday. Saints like Dnyaneshwar, Namdev, Tukaram propagated the philosophy of equality in spirituality. The principles of religious tolerance and women empowerment cemented by visionary warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj laid the ground for the progressive mindset which proved to be the basis for several major social reforms in the 18th and 19th century. In the late 19th century, egalitarian reforms in Maharashtra had three distinct veins: Women's education and empowerment, Mahatma Phule's anti-caste, truth-seeking society and the organizational endeavors initiated by Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar for the education and rights of the underprivileged.Maharashtra was a frontrunner in India's war for independence, producing countless freedom fighters, moderates and radicals alike. After independence, the road ahead for the Maharashtrian people would be full of further struggle, protests and patience. The concept of a separate state for Marathi-speaking people had been established since the idea of Swaraj by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the 17th century. However, after independence, it was only in 1956 that the Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti was formed under the aegis of Keshavrao Jedhe in Pune. Prominent activists like Atre, Prabodhankar Thackeray, Senapati Bapat and Shahir Amar Shaikh and many others made invaluable contributions to the state we call home today.It was Shri Yashwantrao Chavan Saheb, the first Chief Minister of Maharashtra, who led us and our newly-formed state into the bright future. An ingenious and intuitive leader, Chavan Saheb was more than a political leader, he was the voice of the common people in the state and a true statesman! He guided our state to greatness with planning in the fields of agriculture, water resources, small-scale industries and panchayat raj. His values and principles firmly established Maharashtra on progressive and rational lines. Even with the victory of state formation, challenges kept erupting. Among them were the Muslim Satyashodhak Samaj led by Hamid Dalwai, Baba Adhav's' Ek Gaav-Ek Panavatha' movement, the Yuvak Kranti Dal and the Dalit Panther protests. Aggressive language and satyagrahi actions were the hallmarks of these movements. Baba Amte's Anandvan emerged as a training center for socialist activists. Post-emergency, our state was once again gifted with a 38-year old Chief Minister in Padma Vibhushan Sharadchandraji Pawar, a true visionary, as subsequent decades would prove multiple times. Padma Vibhushan Sharadchandraji Pawar's immense intuition, insight and intelligence saw the state excel rapidly in agriculture and industries. He reiterated values of welfare, promoting social equality and equity.Post emergency, a lull was evident in youth movements in Maharashtra and in the following decade, the women's liberation movement gained momentum. Maharashtra had been the pioneer in championing the cause of women's education and emancipation. Journals like 'Baija' and 'Stree' became the mouthpieces of women's liberation in the 1980s. Various women and public organizations were formed and took the cause forward. These organizations met the various demands of women's health, hygiene, livelihood, protection, including those of abandoned and verbally divorced women. This led to the enactment of new laws to protect women against domestic violence, female foeticide, and sexual harassment in the workplace. Maharashtra was the first state in India to enact 30% reservation for women in local bodies under the leadership of Shri Sharad Pawar, and with his untiring efforts over the years, it is now 50%.Many would say that in the last decade, the legacy of social change within Maharashtra has slowed down. It is true that in the last 10 years, many movements for social equality and social progress have reached a dormant stage in this progressive state. We have excelled in various domains of social justice, education, health, local governance, infrastructure and economic development over the last 60 years, and a still greater course is yet to be covered. Any kind of social numbness which seems to be pervasive should be shunned since our beloved state is in an uphill battle in many fronts, especially today. We face two great threats which cannot be seen. On one hand, an attack on our heath and livelihood by COVID-19 and on the other, an attack on our personal freedom by the pangs of communalism.A defining characteristic of Maharashtra has been that of secularism. Practiced and propagated by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, secularism found its roots in Maharashtrian society early, and has inspired the formation and flow of our present society. We have been a people of various faiths who have survived together to live freely together. Against the several ugly communal onslaughts taking place in the country, Maharashtra was the first state to break age-old political barriers, to unite to defend the age-old Maharashtrian spirit of secularism. The Maha Vikaas Aghadi has been a role model for every secular force around the world. Under the very capable administration of Shri Uddhav Thackeray, we have the opportunity to carry on the progressive principles of Maharashtra. It is in our history to struggle and emerge victorious.Today as we fight, as the worst hit state in India, in the war against COVID 19, we must keep hope. Maharashtra has been plagued by many natural and unnatural disasters through time and we have survived. The government is working every minute and every hour only for the protection and welfare of the people, but it is the people whose mental strength is the most vital at this hour.(Jayant Patil is the Maharashtra Cabinet Minister for Water Resources)Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same. Read the full article

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Can India Stop A Pandemic From Becoming Pandemonium?

"Be prepared" is the motto of scouts. Unfortunately, most governments, from China to the US, have ignored this and their people are suffering the tremendous onslaught of the Coronavirus.In India, some initial steps of caution and, perhaps, the fact that we are less connected to the world, have so far saved us from an epidemic. Of course, there is the alternative hypothesis that because of our low level of testing, we really don't know the real situation. The truth probably lies somewhere in between.Unfortunately, we do have a history of being under prepared -- and often unprepared -- and then struggle to rectify the situation. Both our recent experiences with demonetisation and GST clearly demonstrated that we are capable of making a mess of any project that involves masses of people and our rule-driven bureaucracy, whose self-confidence beggars belief, manages to tie things in knots that create more chaos than order.And so, after some quick political movement early on, specifically banning the entry of people from various coronavirus-hit countries, along with the closing of schools, universities and recommending that people work from home if possible, the bureaucracy is seemingly satisfied with this, and has returned to masterly inaction.The government claims that it has done 500 tests last week (all negative) and another 500 this weekThe inaction is based on their belief that they know best. So as the number of cases starts to jump with more geometric progression, we are being reminded we haven't entered stage three, which is when there is "social transmission of the disease". If that is true that's wonderful, but would it not be even more satisfying to know that we are A) doing everything to reduce the impact of Stage 3 and B) prepared for a worst-case scenario, so that the panic we don't want to start right now, does not become pandemonium two weeks or a month later?Everybody, from WHO to leading doctors, have been consistently calling for a more vigorous testing of the population. The government claims that it has done 500 tests last week (all negative) and another 500 this week. This, in a population of 1.4 billion, is hardly likely to generate any confidence in the population. Exit polls ask more than a lakh people how they voted and still get it wrong, how can anyone expect anything from 1,000 tests? And where have they done these tests?Did they do them in the neighbourhood of the Maharashtra outbreak, or in Kerala? No, it was just some random shot of 50 close to each testing centre.And even if we are still in Stage 2 or local transmission, shouldn't we be working to reduce the impact of Stage 3 so that we don't actually end up in Stage 4 -- an epidemic?We have to face facts, that when we enter Stage 3 without any effort at containment, we will have lost the battle as social communication will outstrip anything we have seen before.We have to face facts, that when we enter Stage 3 without any effort at containment, we will have lost the battleOur huge metros with enormous slums and cheek by jowl living of families of four or more in one to two room tenements with shared bathrooms (if any) is hardly likely to provide the environment for social distancing. And once a family or two in a basti falls victim, will there be any means of stopping its spread? And then overflowing into the next cluster?How does anyone propose to maintain social distancing in a society where the only voluntary acts we do are like pushing out one's arm and crossing the road assuming everyone will stop. In a semi-literate, poor, and undisciplined society, do we really believe that we will have voluntary self-isolation, or maintain two-metre distance? (Most lanes in slums aren't two metres wide!)Already, there are reports of positive cases running away from hospitals. Finally we have few doctors, fewer hospitals, and certainly nowhere near enough ventilators to face any major crisis.There are reports of positive cases running away from hospitalsSo unless we are going down the British route of letting the virus spread and letting the weak, old and infirm perish, let us take action now:Get more than the 1 million test kits you have ordered.Get and or develop the two/three tests that China Korea and others have got and test on a mass scale.Turn all university residential quarters into quarantine zones, using the facilities of rooms, beds, and catering to provide the place to move those testing positive away from their homes to a place where they can be monitored.Place all arrivals in two weeks' quarantine like New Zealand and Australia have done. Use the above university residences to house them.Implement an urban lockdown for two weeks at a time. It will not destroy the economy; in fact it may actually save it. (China closes down industry for two weeks during the Chinese New Year every year and they manage fine).All migrant workers encouraged to return to their villages.Of course going down this route involves some issues specifically if a shutdown is proposed.What will happen to daily workers? No work means no earnings. How will they live? Can they get something similar to Rs 6,000 given to farmers? Or give home free rations?Will firms/companies give two weeks of paid holiday? Can the companies afford that? Can the government give an extra tax break for that?What will be done for essential supplies, food medicine etc? Ration shops should be able to handle the grains and sugar needs given our huge stocks.How will this be policed? We have a huge paramilitary force that can do this.Yes, let us not panic, but let us use the advantage we have of everyone's experience and implement those steps now rather than wait for the tragedy to overwhelm us. If things don't go south that's fine, the exercise will not have cost a lot, but if the epidemic does hit and we are not prepared, we will be in a long dark tunnel for quite sometime.(Ishwari Bajpai is Senior Advisor at NDTV)Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same. Read the full article

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Woman Shares News Of Engagement With Grandpa Through Nursing Home Window

Coronavirus: Carly Boyd broke news of her engagement to her grandfather through a window.To contain the spread of the highly contagious coronavirus, thousands of nursing homes and assisted-living facilities across the US have limited visitors and guests. So when nursing student Carly Boyd got engaged over the weekend, she found that there was one special person she could not share the news with - her grandfather. Carly's grandfather, Shelton Mahala, 87, lives at Premier Living and Rehab Center in North Carolina and can't see guests until further notice due to the coronavirus pandemic. "I really wanted to be able to tell my grandfather because he has dementia and there's no phone in there that he has access to," said Carly to KOLD. "I just really wanted to make an effort to tell him."The 21-year-old managed to find a way to tell her grandfather of her engagement and show him her ring. She decided to reveal the news standing at his bedroom window. "When I arrived at the nursing home ... I run around the building to get to his bedroom window and they pulled up his blinds," Carly said to ABC News. "I point to my ring and he realised I was engaged!"Photos of the two meeting each other with a pane of glass between them have gone viral on social media and struck a chord with thousands. Since being shared on Facebook by Premier Living and Rehab Center, the photos have collected more than 2 lakh reactions, over 1.7 lakh 'shares' and thousands of comments. "I'm crying like a baby!! This is love even if it through glass she wanted him to know face to face not over a phone. Even though it's hard it's moments like this that are so precious!" wrote one person in the comments section. "Thanks for sharing this moment of love. We all need bright spots like this right now," said another. "It was very special," said Carly. "I just put my hand on the window, and he put his there too. I just told him I love him, and he said, 'I love you, too, and I hope to see you soon,' like really see you."Click for more trending news(function(d, s, id) {var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s);if (d.getElementById(id)) return;js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;js.src = "http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.6";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); Read the full article

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Shah Rukh Khan Tweets After IPL Meet, Hopes "Show Can Go On"

Shah Rukh Khan, who is the co-owner of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), tweeted after the IPL governing council meeting on Saturday, saying that it was to reiterate that the safety of all those concerned was the biggest priority for all stakeholders. "Wonderful to meet all the Franchise owners 'off the field' so to say. The meeting by @Bcci and @ipl was to reiterate what all of us feel...safety first of the spectators, players management & cities we play in," the iconic actor tweeted. The meeting took place a day after the BCCI decided to postpone the start of IPL 2020 to April 15 from March 29 amid the coronavirus pandemic."All directives of the health agencies & govt to be followed," he added in his tweet. 1/2 Wonderful to meet all the Franchise owners 'off the field' so to say. The meeting by @Bcci and @ipl was to reiterate what all of us feel...safety first of the spectators, players management & cities we play in. All directives of the health agencies & govt to be followed.. — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) March 14, 2020"Hope the spread of the virus subsides & the show can go on," he wrote in a second tweet."BCCI & team owners in consultation with the govt will keep a close watch & decide the way fwd in the health interest of ever1," he wrote. 2/2. Hope the spread of the virus subsides & the show can go on. BCCI & team owners in consultation with the govt will keep a close watch & decide the way fwd in the health interest of ever1. Lovely 2 meet every1 & then sanitise ourselves repeatedly..@SGanguly99 @JayShah #BPatel — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) March 14, 2020"Lovely 2 meet every1 & then sanitise ourselves repeatedly," he signed off, with some of his typical wit.With speculation about the IPL growing, the BCCI on Friday announced their decision to postpone the tournament by a little over two weeks."First priority is safety, so we postponed the games," BCCI president Sourav Ganguly said after the decision was announced.The coronavirus disease has claimed the lives of over 5000 people across the globe, with two deaths reported in India so far. Read the full article

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UP Brings Ordinance On Damage Recovery After Top Court's "No Law" Remark On Protesters' Hoardings

Uttar Pradesh cabinet has approved "UP Recovery of damage to public properties Ordinance-2020".Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh cabinet on Friday approved "UP Recovery of damage to public properties Ordinance-2020" for recovery of losses due to damage to government and private properties during political processions.The decision in this regard was taken by a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday evening."The cabinet has approved UP Recovery of damage to public properties Ordinance-2020 for recovery of losses of government and private properties during political processions, illegal agitations," UP Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna told reporters after the cabinet meeting.When asked about the rules and regulations regarding this, the minister said, "Niyamawali me sari cheez spasht ho jayegi" (Everything will be clear in the rules and regulations being framed)"As per the SC decision to constitute recovery tribunal to recover losses to the government and private properties in political and illegal agitations in the country, the resolution to bring the ordinance has been passed in the cabinet," he said.Cabinet Minister Sidharth Nath Singh said presently recovery was done through government order (GO) but after the SC orders the ordinance was brought in.He also said that during the cabinet meeting, all the ministers praised the chief minister for his decision "to approach Supreme Court as it will help prevent incidents of vandalism and damage of properties in future."The Supreme Court had on Thursday told the Uttar Pradesh government that there is "no law" which backs its action of putting up posters on roadsides with details of those accused of vandalism during anti-CAA protests in LucknowThe top court, while referring the appeal of the state government to a larger three-judge bench next week on the ground that it required "further elaboration and consideration" to put a poster, saying whether the fundamental right to privacy of alleged protesters can be waived by the state by "castigating them for all times" to come.A vacation bench of justices U U Lalit and Aniruddha Bose did not stay the Allahabad High Court's March 9 order asking the Lucknow administration to remove the posters.The Uttar Pradesh government had moved the top court challenging the Allahabad High Court order.The High Court had also directed the district magistrate and the Lucknow police commissioner to submit a compliance report on or before March 16.The posters were displayed to "name and shame" the accused who had allegedly caused damage to public property during the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in the state capital on December 19 last year.Besides IPS officer SR Darapuri, activist-politician Sadaf Jafar is among those whose names and photos have been put up at major road crossings in Lucknow. Read the full article

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5 Days Of Blood, Bodies And My First Visit To A Mortuary In Delhi

It was Monday, February 24, when I was told by my assignment desk to track the family of a cop who was killed in the violence that erupted in Delhi over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). After finishing my day's desk job, I proceeded to Jag Pravesh Chand hospital in Delhi's Shahadra where we assumed the cop was brought-in dead but upon learning that all patients were admitted in another hospital - we immediately rushed to Guru Teg Bahadur, the biggest in the area.It was 8 pm, I was at the GTB Hospital and walked straight into the emergency ward. Before me, I saw several people and a couple of police officials drenched in blood, several had bandaged themselves in their already torn clothes, many with different kinds of wounds; I saw flesh and bones all in one go. Quite understandably, there was panic among patients and people who brought them in. Hospital officials were trying to make sense of the situation, as was I; because I wanted to obtain figures on the number of dead and injured so we could start reporting. At this point all we knew was at least four were killed. Some were saying five; some six. The numbers were varying, because the numbers were just coming in. My only focus at this point - to NOT get anything wrong, to not treat numbers as merely numerical; these were number of lives lost we were talking about. It was not about who got the numbers first, it was about getting it right with a sensitive mind and this was only Day 1 of my 5-days long reporting from the GTB Hospital. It was not easy to see bodies lying in a pool of blood two minutes before going live on an OB and keep a straight face on camera. I returned home the same night recalling all that I had witnessed during the course of the day thinking to myself how do I put myself to sleep.Massive violence had erupted in northeast Delhi over the Citizenship Amendment ActDay 2: I was back at GTB Hospital, a little more prepared. The portico of the casualty entrance became a spot for the press and this time I was with my colleague, Ravish Ranjan Shukla. I was sure in his company I'd be a little more confident in my reporting and he'd guide me if I went wrong. Little did I see this coming but what lied ahead of us was visits to the mortuary to seek further details and even more heartbreaking to speak to the families of the victims. This was my first time at a mortuary where I saw relatives cry endlessly; some wanting to identify the bodies, some hoping if their missing relatives were not dead, some lying unconscious, some who had no hope left their hearts, some who hadn't eaten or slept for two days. As And amid all of this, as I prepared to wrap up for the days I realized I had lost all my belongings from the very same spot - a bag pack I always carry with me that has all my essentials my journal, credit/debit cards, identity cards, power bank etc. I felt extremely dejected not because I lost all my belonging but because I wasEach day I was back to the hospital, the death toll kept increasing. While there was no official health bulletin released time to time, the medical director promised to give us journalists an update every few hours. Many other sources were giving us higher figures but I stuck to hospital officials and their data even if that meant not getting it first.Saleem, brother of victim Anwar - killed in the riots narrated to me how he saw his brother killed before him. "My brother was shot thrice. I was sheltered by a Hindu family. I saw my brother from the window being put into fire by a mob. I couldn't save my brother. My children and I wouldn't be alive today if a Hindu family had not saved us," he told me while crying his lungs out.I met a father who had come all the way from Bihar to identify his son's body. He told me while breaking down, "I have come from Bihar after borrowing money from people (chanda kar ke)"I met a son who came to me asking for help. He told me, "The hospital officials are making me run from pillar to post because my father's name was wrongly spelt during admission. I haven't seen my father's body, it has been five days."The aunt of Ashfaq Khan (killed in the same violence) had come from Bulandshahr had been waiting at the mortuary for four days told me "We still don't know who the investigating officer in our case is. It's been four days, we've been waiting outside the mortuary."A father serving in the Railway Police Force who had last seen his son two months ago came to the mortuary to identify his son's body. "I spoke to him on the day of the violence. The next thing I know is he was killed. We who work in the forces are always posted away from our families protecting other. But my family was left unprotected."In those four days, colleagues from other media worked together. It almost felt like an exam where we were seeking notes from each other, trying to remember names except, here were at a hospital, memorizing the names and number of the dead. At one point I remember going blank, not able to think so a friend from another publication and I excused ourselves from the mortuary and went to a quieter place at a tea point where we gathered our thoughts. It was not easy. On those four days, it wasn't easy to put myself to sleep either; when the only thoughts running in my mind were these words from some of the people I had spoken to that hit me very hard, "Kya fayda hua in sab se? Kaun jeeta?" "Kaha dil miley hue the aaj dil phat gaye" "prashasan se yahi dua karunga kabhi kisi aulad ka parivar na cheen"... "mera beta mera sahara tha... mujhe mere bete se nahi milne de rahe hai" "mere papa bohot hi seedhe aadmi the ilake mei, maarney wale ne unko bhi nahi chora."In the midst of all this, I had completely lost track on a 2-day conference I was to attend in the UAE in the immediate week. Neither had I prepared nor had I packed for this trip because the only thing that was on my mind, and in all our hearts was the carnage that had cast a shadow in the national capital. This was my first international assignment and while I made it physically to the conference, I had left my heart and my mind back in Delhi.We reporters are often reminded to not get too involved in our stories but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't emotionally involved since day one. Everything I witnessed in those five days will remain with me in this lifetime. While speaking to these families, there were times I shook while holding the mic, there was one time when I broke down at a quiet corner; this was my first time reporting on tragedy and violence. For someone who in an emotional person and still tears up at the prick of an injection, I tried very hard to not let emotions take over me.First, from seeing blood and bodies to attending a 2-day conference in a Middle Eastern country (while also reporting on the Coronavirus situation from the UAE) and to losing all my belongings - I have not had a more physically and emotionally exhausting two weeks in my career so far. I used to tell my friends the very famous line on Delhi... "Dilli dil walon ka shehar hai..." but now the only line that rings in my head is..."Kahan dil miley hue the... aaj woh dil.. .phat gaye hai". This was certainly not the Delhi I had moved to eight years ago. A Delhi where death, fear, panic, chaos, sorrow, hopelessness, hate, bloodshed was in the air for days. As a journalist and as an individual, those five days have taught me a lot.(Shonakshi Chakravarty is an Assistant Output Editor, NDTV)Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same. Read the full article

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Amid Coronavirus Scare, Bird Flu Cases Found At Kerala Poultry Farm

Bird Flu Scare: The government has said there is nothing to worry about (Representational)Kozhikode: Even as the presence of bird flu was confirmed in two areas of Kozhikode district of Kerala, two state ministers said on Saturday that there was no need to worry.The bird flu was found at two poultry farms in and around Kozhikode Municipal Corporation limits. Authorities will now cull the poultry in affected areas.State Forest and Animal Husbandry Minister K Raju said that test samples were drawn in Kerala two days back and sent to a laboratory in Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh."We have no authority under the rules to make such announcements. The samples were sent to the Bhopal lab, which has now confirmed the presence of bird flu in two areas of Kozhikode district. All precautions to tackle the situation have been taken and there is no need to worry," he said.State Health Minister KK Shailaja also downplayed the issue and said it is "quite natural" during this season of the year. "There is nothing to be worried about. What is required is culling and it will take place," said Shailaja.Kozhikode District Collector Sambhasiva Rao has been tasked with ensuring that proper protocol is employed to cull birds within one square km in the affected areas."Poultry in the affected areas will have to be culled and 25 special teams have been formed for the purpose. Everything is under control," said Mr Rao.Each team consists of a veterinarian and four others. Read the full article

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PM Narendra Modi Turns Emotional When Dehradun Woman Says, I See God In You

PM Modi was visibly emotional as the woman repeated her remarkNew Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned emotional on Saturday when a woman beneficiary of his government's generic medicine programme told him that she had "seen God in you".Dehradun-resident Deepa Shah, who suffered paralysis in 2011, was interacting with the prime minister through video-conference on the occasion of Jan Aushadhi Diwas."I have not seen god, but I have seen god in you," she said, tears rolling down her eyes.PM Modi was visibly emotional as the woman repeated her remark.#WATCH Prime Minister Narendra Modi gets emotional after Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadi Pariyojana beneficiary Deepa Shah breaks down during interaction with PM. pic.twitter.com/Ihs2kRvkaI— ANI (@ANI) March 7, 2020She also thanked the Uttarakhand chief minister and others who had helped her all along and said doctors had once told her that she cannot be cured."But on hearing your voice I have become better," she told PM Modi while profusely thanking the prime minister for his efforts to reduce the cost of medicines.An emotional Prime Minister paused for a moment before telling her that it was her courage that had won over her disease and that she must carry on with the spirit.Ms Shah was expressing her plight and how she had suffered due to high cost of medicines after she suffered from paralysis in 2011 and has now started saving Rs 3,500 every month after benefitting from the government's low-cost generic medicines programme.Soon after Ms Shah rose to express her views, PM Modi asked her to sit and speak as he said she was uncomfortable while standing."You have defeated disease with your own will power. Your courage is your god and that same courage has given you the strength to emerge from such a big crisis. You should carry on this confidence in you," PM Modi told her.He said some people still keep spreading rumours about generic medicines, going by their past experience, wondering how can medicines be available so cheap and that there must be something wrong with the medicine."But, by seeing you countrymen would gain confidence that there is nothing wrong in generic medicines. These medicines are not at all of inferior quality than any other medicine. These medicines have been certified by the best laboratories. These medicines are made in India and is ''Make in India'' and are cheap," the Prime Minister said.He said there is demand for generic medicines from India across the world and the government has made it mandatory for doctors to prescribe generic medicines to patients, unless necessary. Read the full article

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Back From Gurugram, MLAs Deny Any BJP Plot

The MLAs have denied Congress claims that the BJP offered them money.Four of the six MLAs of the ruling dispensation in Madhya Pradesh who returned from Delhi on Wednesday, have denied Congress claims that the BJP offered them money or held them hostage at a hotel in Gurugram. All four, however, made it clear that there was no threat to the state's Kamal Nath government.Six MLAs, three from the Congress- Kamlesh Jatav, Ranveer Jatav and Aidal Singh Kansana - BSP MLAs Sanjiv Kushwah and Rambai Thakur and one SP MLA Rajesh Shukla returned to Bhopal on Wednesday. Ministers Jeetu Patwari and Tarun Bhanot, who accompanied them, claimed they had been forcibly taken to Gurugram by the BJP with the plan to destabilise the Congress-led government.Three of the Congress MLAs and an independent MLA -- who were allegedly flown by Bengaluru by BJP leaders -- are yet to return. A fourth sent his resignation from the assembly to the Speaker today.Former minister and Congress MLA Aidal Singh Kansana, a Digvijaya Singh loyalist, denied claims of bribery or coercion. Three others -- Sanjiv Kushwah and Rambai Thakur of Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party and Rajesh Shukla of the Samajwadi Party agreed.The BSP legislator from Bhind, Sanjiv Kushwah, said the Congress leaders were making "hollow claims just to score brownie points from their party high command". "I am warning them -- don't fire a gun from someone else's shoulder," he said, demanding that the Congress leaders provide evidence on their claims.Samajwadi Party MLA Rajesh Shukla, said "I am 6 feet tall, from a well-to-do family... No one has the power to hold us hostage or even rescue us. We'll go wherever we want to. No one can force or rescue us".The suspended BSP MLA from Pathariya seat Rambai Thakur said claims that former home minister and BJP leader Bhupendra Singh "had taken me to Delhi in a chartered plane, are lying"."I was going to Delhi-Gurugram to meet my daughter and Bhupendra Singh was boarding the same plane. Should I have de-boarded since he was there? All of us are firmly with Kamal Nath government," Rambai Thakur added.BJP leader and former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, whom sources had named in the alleged BJP plot, has also denied his party's role in the matter, saying it was an "internal matter of the Congress". Read the full article

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After Diljit Dosanjh Photoshops Picture With Her, Ivanka Trump Replies

Diljit Dosanjh had shared a hilarious picture of himself with Ivanka Trump in front of the Taj MahalNew Delhi: Ivanka Trump, who was in India last week along with husband Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, replied to Diljit Dosanjh on Twitter on Sunday after the singer put up a photoshopped picture of him with Ms Trump.Singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh had earlier shared a hilarious picture of himself with Donald Trump's daughter in front of the Taj Mahal on Instagram.He had captioned the photo: "Me and Ivanka. Piche hee pey aaee, kehndi Taj Mahal kana, Taj Mahal jana... Mai fer ley geya hor ki karda (She was after my life to take her to Taj Mahal. So I took her, what else could I have done)?"Me & IvankaPiche hee Pey Gaee Kehndi Taj Mahal Jana Taj Mahal Jana.. 😜Mai Fer Ley Geya Hor Ki Karda 😎 pic.twitter.com/Pnztfxz7m0— DILJIT DOSANJH (@diljitdosanjh) March 1, 2020A senior advisor to the Trump administration, Ivanka Trump, retweeted Mr Dosanjh's post and wrote: "Thank you for taking me to the spectacular Taj Mahal, @diljitdosanjh! It was an experience I will never forget!"Thank you for taking me to the spectacular Taj Mahal, @diljitdosanjh! 😉It was an experience I will never forget! https://t.co/VgqFuYBRIg— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) March 1, 2020Diljit Dosanjh is known for his admiration for Kylie Jenner and actress Gal Gadot and he often comments on their Twitter posts.Ms Trump also shared other photoshopped images from her India tour posted by users on Twitter and wrote: "I appreciate the warmth of the Indian people. ...I made many new friends!!!"I appreciate the warmth of the Indian people....I made many new friends!!! https://t.co/MXz5PkapBg— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) March 1, 2020In 2017, Ivanka Trump had visited India for the first time to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Hyderabad. She attended the event along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Read the full article

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Telangana Suspends Cop For Kicking Grieving Father Of Dead Teen

The cop carrying the girl's coffin pushed the man who tried to block their way and kicked himHyderabad: Telangana Police today suspended a policeman who was caught on camera kicking the grieving father of a 16-year-old college student who had allegedly committed suicide at the college hostel.Police constable N Sridhar has been placed under suspension, police said.The action came after public outrage over the incident that occurred near Hyderabad on Wednesday.The video had gone viral on the social media, triggering the public uproar. Police had on Wednesday removed the erring police constable from duty by attaching him with Armed Reserve (AR) headquarters. However, many were not satisfied with the action and some people wondered if it was a punishment.Sandhya Rani, student of Intermediate First Year (11th standard) had allegedly committed suicide at the hostel of a private college in Velimala village in the same district on Tuesday.Police had registered a case of criminal negligence against the college management on the complaint of her father Chandrashekhar, who claimed that she was suffering from fever for last one week but the college authorities failed to send her home or get her treated.When the body was kept at mortuary room in a government hospital for autopsy, the girl's relatives and students forcibly took away the body. They wanted to take the body to college and stage a protest to demand justice.The police managed to take possession of the coffin after dispersing the protestors. As they were carrying back the coffin to the hospital, the girl's father tried to block their path wanting to know how his daughter died.The man threw himself to the ground, clinging to the coffin. The police personnel carrying the coffin pushed the man and one of them kicked him repeatedly.Later, an autopsy was conducted on the body, but the family refused to take the body till justice was done to them.The college management late Wednesday announced Rs 15 lakh compensation for the girl's family. The family later received the body and transported it to their native village for the last rites. Read the full article

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Delhi High Court Tells Police To Ensure Safe Passage, Treatment Of Injured

New Delhi: In a midnight hearing, the Delhi High Court directed police to ensure safe passage and emergency treatment for those injured in the violence over the amended citizenship law.The hearing took place at the residence of Justice S Murlidhar on an urgent plea seeking safe passage for the injured to medical institutions with adequate facilities. The Bench of Justices S Muralidhar and Anup J Bhambhani directed the Delhi Police to deploy all resources to ensure this. The Bench also called for a compliance report, including information about the injured and the treatment offered to them. The matter will now be heard on Wednesday at 2.15 pm. The Bench said the order be communicated to the medical superintendents of the Guru Tegh Bahadur and Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan hospitals in Delhi. Communal violence over the amended citizenship law in northeast Delhi had claimed at least 13 lives till Tuesday as police struggled to check the rioters who ran amok on streets, burning and looting shops, pelting stones and thrashing people.  Read the full article

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Donald Trump On Trade Deal

US President Donald Trump is India for a two-day state visitNew Delhi: India has "probably the highest tariffs in the world and this has to stop, at least with the United States", US President Donald Trump said today in response to questions about a possible trade deal between India and America. Speaking at a press conference in Delhi, on the final day of his first official trip, he cited high tariffs imposed on US-made Harley Davidson motorcycles and struck a defiant note when asked about a trade deal, saying an agreement would have to be "reciprocal"."Relationship with India is magnificent - but deficit is 24 billion (as per the US government, goods and services trade deficit with India was $25.2 billion in 2018). They (the Indian government) have high tariffs... too high. You can't do that," Donald Trump said."Harley-Davidson has to pay tremendous tariffs when they send motorcycles here and when India sends to us, there is virtually no tariff," Mr Trump added.Hopes two of the world's largest economies would agree a trade deal faded in recent days after differences over proposed tariffs by India to protect domestic manufacturers. This happened after the US scrapped a system of preferences that allowed the export of $5.6 billion of goods.Ahead of Mr Trump's talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, news agency Reuters quoted a White House official as saying: "We want to make sure we get this balance right. We want to address a lot of concerns and we're not quite there yet".Trade talks have been hampered by a clash between the United States' "America First" slogan and India's "Make in India" outlook.While minor compared to his trade war with China, Mr Trump has slapped tariffs on Indian steel and aluminum and suspended duty-free access for certain goods in an effort to cut the deficit. India responded with higher tariffs on US goods, including $600 million worth of Californian almonds.Nevertheless, Mr Trump offered hope that a deal was not impossible, saying "lots of productive work has been done in last two days... we are working on a major trade deal".One big-ticket deal has already been announced - the US will sell $3 billion worth of military equipment, including helicopters, to India.Donald Trump is in India for a two-day state visit that concludes this evening.On Monday Mr Trump and PM Modi addressed a crowd of more than a lakh at the newly-built Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Cricket Stadium in Gujarat's Ahmedabad, where the two leaders praised on each other. Later in the day Mr Trump and First Lady Melania Trump received a special tour of the Taj Mahal in Agra.With input from Reuters, PTI Read the full article