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Vasundhara Raje tries to find ‘lost’ roots in desert state via temple runs

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The year 2021 was full of challenges for former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje who wasted no time to turn them into opportunities and started her religious yatras to different temples in the state.

Raje’s posters were removed from the BJP office in the state capital. She also remained absent from campaigning during bypolls held in three places, namely Vallabhnagar, Dhariyawad and Rajsamand. Her absence and staying away from party happenings became the burning topic in the state politics.

She neither showed up during campaigning nor marked her presence in significant party meetings.

In fact, a parallel team was being run under ‘Team Vasundhara Raje 2023’. It released a list of its own district presidents in the state.

Further, during the second wave of Covid, while the BJP ran ‘Seva hi Sangathan’ campaign, the Raje team ran ‘Vasundhara Jan Rasoi’ where food was served to the needy.

When her daughter-in-law was unwell and admitted to a renowned hospital in Gurugram, Raje and her followers were seen conducting special prayers.

She continued her religious yatras in different parts of the state (often referred to as political yatras) which undoubtedly attracted a good crowd.

She started her visits in the state to sacred places and paid homage to party workers and their relatives who passed away, attracting good gatherings. Her loyalists made all efforts to make these visits successful to give the message to the party that she is still there in the hearts of the people of the state.

Meanwhile, by the end of the year, Raje followers were left shocked to see their favourite leader missing from the dias of a mammoth Rajput rally organised in Jaipur in which all Rajput stalwarts were seen, including Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Jaipur princess Diya Kumari but not her.

While a few leaders confirmed to IANS that Raje was not invited to the rally, others said that she did not come despite being invited.

A few leaders confirmed that a strong message was given to the party via the rally that Raje should not be the CM face, while others remained mum when being asked about the same.

Meanwhile, the BJP office-bearers confirmed that it was for the first time that Vasundhara Raje was not on the stage of this Kshatriya rally, which was attended by around 4-5 lakh Rajputs.

What went wrong in all these years as Raje, who was involved in rallies and programmes of the Kshatriya Yuva Sangh in the past and had participated in rallies of Kshatriya Yuvak Sangh in Jaipur in 2008 and in Jodhpur in 2017, was missing in this rally remains an unanswered question.

Has the queen, who once referred to herself as the daughter of Rajput, lost her charm among the warrior lobby or is she still ruling their hearts? Let’s wait for the coming year, says a BJP worker.

National News

Lok Sabha adjourned briefly amid Oppn ruckus after House marks 1942 Quit India Movement anniversary

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The Lok Sabha failed to transact any legislative business on Friday morning, as the constant protests and ruckus by the Opposition members resulted in disruption of the Question Hour. The House was adjourned till noon.

The House, soon after convening for the day, remembered the historic movement — 1942 Bharat Chodo Andolan, started and helmed by Mahatma Gandhi — and observed a minute of silence for the freedom fighters, pledging to uphold their guiding principles.

Soon after paying tributes to the freedom fighters, the House descended into chaos with Opposition members resorting to slogan-shouting and demanding debate on issues like alleged police excesses during the Delhi stir.

Seeking to placate the protesting members, the Speaker urged them to contribute to the House proceedings by participating in the Question Hour, but the uproar continued.

Om Birla even cited Mahatma Gandhi to support his arguments and asked the protesting members to follow his path of ‘finding solutions through dialogue’.

Emphasising that Mahatma Gandhi is revered not just in the country but globally, he asked them to follow his ideals and let the House function

“I plead before you to not disrupt the crucial Question Hour and let the House function,” the Speaker exhorted.

As his appeal went unheeded and with no let-up in sloganeering from the Opposition benches, the Speaker adjourned the House till noon.

Earlier, the Speaker told the House that on August 9, the nation will observe the 84th anniversary of Bharat Chodo Andolan (Quit India movement).

“It was on this day in 1942 that Mahatma Gandhi gave the slogan of “do or die” to resist the British regime. This movement was an affirmation of people’s unwavering faith, unconditional loyalty and devotion towards the motherland,” Om Birla told the House.

He further said that the movement played a decisive role in awakening the nation and uniting the countrymen in uprooting the British regime.

“Today, we remember and pay tributes to the freedom fighters and martyrs and, taking inspiration from their sacrifice, ideals and principles, we vow to uphold their ideals in true spirit,” he added.

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Crime

Rs 1.46 Lakh cyber fraud busted: Delhi Police arrests 4, including Nigerian national

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The Cyber Police Station of Delhi’s South-West District has busted an inter-state cyber fraud syndicate involved in impersonation-based online scams and arrested four accused, including a Nigerian national. The gang cheated a complainant of Rs 1.46 lakh by falsely claiming that a parcel containing US dollars and gold had been sent to India in his name.

Police said the operation involved coordinated investigations across Delhi, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. A total of seven mobile phones allegedly used in the commission of the offence have been recovered.

According to police, a complaint was received on March 31, at PS Cyber, South-West District, alleging that the complainant had been cheated by unidentified persons through an online impersonation scam. The fraudsters reportedly contacted the victim through WhatsApp messages and phone calls while posing as residents of the United States.

Investigators said the accused gradually gained the complainant’s trust by establishing a personal relationship and then falsely informed him that a parcel containing US dollars and gold had been dispatched to India in his name.

The victim was subsequently asked to pay money on various pretexts, including obtaining a Money Declaration Certificate, booking flight tickets, customs clearance charges and securing the release of the purportedly seized parcel.

Believing the claims to be genuine, the complainant transferred Rs 1.46 lakh through multiple UPI IDs and bank accounts. Following the complaint, an e-FIR was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and an investigation was launched.

Given the seriousness of the case, a special team comprising SI Vishal Yadav, HC Pramod Kumar, HC Vikram, HC Amit Kumar and W/HC Reena Kumari was constituted under the supervision of Inspector Pravesh Kaushik, SHO, PS Cyber, and ACP Operations Sanghamitra.

During the investigation, the team conducted extensive technical analysis, examined digital evidence, tracked financial transactions and carried out surveillance. The investigation trail led police from Delhi to Telangana and eventually to Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

Based on technical inputs, the first accused, Deepak Kumar (22), was arrested from Maidan Garhi in South Delhi. One mobile phone allegedly used in the fraud was recovered from his possession.

Further investigation led the team to Jayashankar Bhupalpally district in Telangana, where Konda Sagar (33) was arrested. Subsequently, Azmeera Vinod Kumar (30) was apprehended from Dubbapeta in Telangana, and two mobile phones were recovered from him.

Continuing the probe, investigators uncovered the involvement of Simeon Miracle Chinonso (22), a Nigerian national residing in Visakhapatnam. Acting on technical Intelligence, the police conducted a raid in Andhra Pradesh and arrested the accused. Four mobile phones allegedly used in the cyber fraud operation were recovered from her possession.

Police said the investigation revealed that the accused were part of an organised cyber fraud network. Deepak Kumar, Konda Sagar and Azmeera Vinod Kumar allegedly arranged and supplied mule bank accounts to cybercriminals in exchange for commissions.

Meanwhile, Chinonso allegedly impersonated immigration officials, customs officers and representatives of various organisations through WhatsApp chats and phone calls. Victims were induced to transfer money on the false promise of receiving foreign parcels and clearing customs and documentation formalities.

Investigators found that the defrauded money was routed through multiple bank accounts to conceal its origin and facilitate further transfers.

Police have recovered seven mobile phones from the accused. Further investigation is underway to identify other members of the syndicate and trace additional victims who may have been targeted through similar frauds.

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Crime

Seven injured in Haryana gang war outside police station

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Chandigarh, Aug 6: In a brazen daylight indiscriminate firing in front of the police station in Dadri city of Haryana on Thursday, seven people, who were riding on an SUV car, received injuries, police said.

Three assaulters fled on foot by waving revolvers.

Prima facie the police believed the crime was linked to a gang war, although the attackers, who fired at least 30 shots, are yet to be identified.

A video of the crime was surfaced, showing injured men sitting in the bullet-riddled SUV car.

The injured have been referred to the PGI in Rohtak in a critical condition.

The cause of the crime is yet to be ascertained.

The gunfire sound triggered panic in the area.

Seven people riding Scorpio car were seriously injured.

According to eyewitnesses, the firing was so sudden that there was a stampede-like condition among passersby.

As the information received, the police reached the spot and the injured were rushed to the Civil Hospital of Charkhi Dadri for treatment.

After first-aid, all the seven injured were referred to PGI Rohtak in critical conditions.

The injured have been identified as Ankit of Charkhi Dadri, Kirtiman of Hisar, Suraj, Ankit of Bhiwani, Sunny of Hisar, Krishan of Mahendragarh and Amit of Fatehgarh.

A forensic team took possession of the evidence at the spot.

Footage from CCTV cameras installed in the vicinity is also being scanned to identify the attackers, an Investigating official said.

Preliminary investigation by the police revealed that the three miscreants came on a bike.

The accused positioned the bike in front of the Scorpio car and forced him to stop it following which they opened fire.

The firing caused a stampede and chaos at the spot.

The Superintendent of Police and other senior officers reached the spot as the incident was reported.

The police have cordoned off the entire area.

With the help of the forensic team, evidence, bullet shells and other important clues found from the spot are being seized and they are being examined.

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