Ex-army officer held for threatening in Dawood Ibrahim's name
Bengaluru, Feb 3: Vivekanagar police station police arrested a retired army officer here on charges of threatening and demanding money from a person in the name of underworld fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim's associate.
The arrested accused has been identified as Ekambar (52) of Begur in the city. It is said that he had worked in the army as an officer for 17 years and after his retirement, he has been working as painting contractor.
He has introduced himself to Ashwini who is running a restaurant at ASC Centre at Vivekanagar. In order to make money, he opened his WhatsApp account in his name in other's mobile phone, it is said.
As preplanned, he called Ashwini on January 25 morning and introduced himself as a close side of Dawood Ibrahim and came to Bengaluru three months ago. Later he threatened her that they would kill her brother Pawan and other family members if she has not given Rs 1 crore ransom. A case was registered at Vivekanagar police station. Police made Ashwini to call him and she would give Rs 50 lakh instead of Rs 1 crore. After taking a suitcase to the place where he asked her to come, the police managed to arrest him, police said.
He has involved in such activities in order to leads luxury life, a senior police officer said.
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Mamata visits Bhabanipur EVM strong room, warns against counting irregularities
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee early Friday warned against any attempt to tamper with the counting process, hours after she visited an EVM strong room in Bhabanipur, alleging possible malpractice.
Banerjee, who emerged around 12:07 am after spending nearly four hours at the counting centre for her Bhabanipur constituency housed in Sakhawat Memorial School in south Kolkata, said only one person would be allowed inside the designated counting area.
"Either the candidate or one agent can stay upstairs. I have also suggested installation of a CCTV camera for the media," she told reporters.
Stressing the need for transparency, she said, "It is essential to maintain transparency. People’s votes must be protected. I rushed here after receiving complaints. The central forces initially did not allow me to enter."
Sounding a stern note ahead of the May 4 counting, she added, "If there is any plan to tamper with the counting process, it will not be tolerated."
On Thursday evening, Banerjee had reached the Bhabanipur Assembly segment counting centre, which houses the strong room for EVMs used in the April 29 polling, citing suspicion of tampering with the machines.
She entered the premises along with her election agent and remained inside for hours, even as Kolkata Mayor and TMC candidate from the Kolkata Port segment Firhad Hakim reached the spot but could not meet her.
"I reached here upon learning that the chief minister has arrived. But I couldn’t meet her since she was already inside the premises, exercising her right as a candidate to visit strong rooms. I wasn’t allowed there. I will not be able to confirm what exactly is transpiring inside," Hakim said.
The development coincided with protests by TMC candidates Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja outside the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra in north Kolkata, where they staged a sit-in alleging irregularities and possible tampering of EVMs stored in strong rooms, leading to face-offs between TMC and BJP supporters.
Earlier in a video message, Banerjee had urged party leaders, workers and polling agents to maintain a 24-hour vigil on EVM strong rooms, alleging that the BJP could attempt to tamper with the machines before counting begins.
Her remarks come amid heightened political tension in the state following a fiercely contested Assembly election, with parties closely monitoring arrangements and raising concerns over transparency.
