Maximum cybercrimes in the city
In the first 11 months of this year, the IT capital reported 16,000 cybercrimes. The data from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) reported 15,779 cybercrimes, or 23.4% of the total crimes (67,446). Phishing, OTP frauds, extortion and sextortion were the most common of the 46 cybercrimes in the city.
Every fourth crime happens online. An official policy to register every case has also contributed to the large numbers, said sources.
The report followed the ‘Crime in India 2022’ document released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), as the city recorded 9,940 cases last year, or twice as many as any other city. About 81% of all electronic offences in the state were reported from the capital city. Cybercrimes currently comprise 28% of the total cases.
However, of the 9,940 cases reported last year, the police managed to solve just 1,176 cases (11%).
Source: Deccan Herald, Indian Express
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Most number of acid attack victims
Last year, the city had the maximum number of acid attack victims (eight) from six incidents, as compared to other metropolitan cities, according to NCRB data, 2022. Three more attempts to attack with acid were also registered. Despite demands for decades, women’s organisations are not able to ensure regulations over the availability of acid, said an activist.
The city also had the third highest number of cases of attacks on women to outrage modesty (757 cases and 763 victims), as well as 488 cases of assaults on women, with 492 victims, according to the data. There were 120 cases of sexual harassment, 63 cases of assault or use of criminal force to disrobe women, 16 cases of voyeurism and 70 cases of stalking. The city also registered the highest number of dowry harassment cases, 964 out of 1,221, among 19 metros.
The city ranked third in crimes against women, with 3,924 registered cases in 2022.
Source: The Hindu, The New Indian Express
Lock Aadhaar biometrics
Aadhaar biometrics should be locked to prevent your bank account theft, says police and cybersecurity experts. Recently, Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AEPS) scammers cloned fingerprints to clean out bank accounts. AEPS allows a customer to take up basic transactions, like balance enquiry, cash withdrawal and remittances in the presence of a ‘business correspondent’ or ‘bank mitra’.
Scammers exploited AEPS to rob customers remotely, with no OTP or SMS verification alert. They lift people’s thumb impressions from documents, such as property records, clone them with silicone sheets or rubber stamps.
Source: Deccan Herald
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Airport renovation
The Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL), operating Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), will soon roll out its master plan, with the refurbishing of Terminal 1, completing Phase 2 of Terminal 2 and constructing Terminal 3 by the early 2030s. The refurbishment of T1 will include configuration of security, baggage and other mechanisms.
The second phase of T2 will be completed, which will make it cater to another 20 million passengers. The location for Terminal 3 in the late 2020s or early 2030s will be identified, depending on the growth of the traffic. Terminal 3 is required due to the growing demand for domestic travel, in which Bengaluru airport is the ‘natural gateway’ for South India. There is also a strong pitch for a second airport, with the government hinting at a new one on the Tumkur road.
The airport authorities are planning to connect T1 and T2 and eventually T3, with a ‘rail’ system to ensure hassle-free movement of passengers. The airport is operating shuttle bus services every 7-8 minutes between T1 and T2.
Sources said that work on the master plan would start soon and would be ready in 12 to 14 months.
Source: Indian Express, The Hindu
Panel to study Marshal plan
The effectiveness of marshals, who have been asked to manage waste segregation as well as other duties, is being examined, as more than 50% of collected garbage remains mixed. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) allocates more than Rs 25 crore every year for the 750 marshals, so the total costs over the past seven years is about Rs 157 crore. However, these additional expenses contradict the purpose of deploying marshals, who are supposed to generate revenue by penalising offenders who defaced public places or mixed waste. However, garbage-filled black spots and debris are still common.
Meanwhile, an apartment complex of 900 flats in RR Nagar had to shell out Rs 25,000 in fines for not segregating garbage. The BBMP slapped the penalty after junior health inspectors found wet, dry and sanitary waste, including medical waste, dumped in the same drum.
Source: Deccan Herald
[Compiled by Revathi Siva Kumar]