Police rescue 600 people from clutches of fraudsters in Bihar
Motihari (Bihar), (PTI): Nearly 600 people, including 79 minors, were rescued from the clutches of fraudsters in Bihar's East Champaran district, the police said on Monday.
The police also arrested three persons associated with a firm that allegedly used to lure youths and minors with fake job offers, only to hold them captive and extort money from their families.
“Acting on a tip-off, police raided the premises of the private firm in the Raxaul area of East Champaran district and rescued 495 youths and 79 minor boys from its premises," the East Champaran Police said in a statement.
The police arrested three persons and launched a manhunt to nab 17 absconding accused who have been named in the FIR, it said.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the firm used to detain people even for months after promising them jobs.
“Persons associated with the firm also extorted Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 from the parents of the victims. Investigations also revealed that victims were subjected to physical and psychological abuse by the accused," the statement said.
All 79 rescued minor boys were handed over to the Child Welfare Committee of Motihari, the district headquarters of East Champaran.
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SP has ended contract with I-PAC due to fund constraints: Akhilesh Yadav
Lucknow (PTI): Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday said his party has severed its association with the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) due to a lack of funds.
He dismissed speculations that the termination of contract was because of recent election results.
Addressing a press conference here, Yadav said the party had engaged I-PAC for a brief period ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections but could not continue the arrangement.
"Yes, we had an association. They worked with us for a few months, but we are not able to continue because we do not have that kind of funding," he said.
The I-PAC is a political consultancy firm known for managing major election campaigns across the country.
Election strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor has also been associated with the organisation in the past and has worked with multiple parties, including the BJP and the Congress.
In a lighter vein, Yadav took a swipe at the ecosystem of political consultancies. "We thought that if we have to work with a 'winning agency', then there are several big companies."
He said that some people suggested conducting surveys, hiring another firm, keeping a social media company, and even engaging agencies for negative campaigning against other parties.
"There are one or two more companies whose names are not yet known. I can get those for you as well," Yadav said.
Yadav rejected the suggestion that the decision to end the deal was influenced by recent election outcomes in states such as West Bengal.
"There is no such thing. Do not ask questions based on baseless reports. That is not true," he said.
"This is not the reason for ending the agreement. We simply do not have enough funds. If you (the media) give us funds, we can hire another company," the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said.
