US: Modi puppet rode on car with banner: "I could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue & get away with it"
New York: In a surprising turn of events today, a massive puppet resembling Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made its way down Fifth Avenue in New York City. The puppet, riding in a convertible, displayed a banner with a provocative message reminiscent of a statement made by former presidential candidate Donald Trump in 2016.
The event, organized by Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim diaspora groups, aimed to draw attention to the alleged strategy of the Indian government in intimidating and assassinating US citizens of Indian descent and other activists abroad.
The collaborative effort of these diaspora organizations underscored a pressing issue, raising concerns about the implications for international relations and human rights.
The protest follows a series of alarming incidents, including an alleged attempt by Indian authorities to assassinate a US citizen in New York and the killing of a Canadian Sikh activist. The FBI even issued warnings to activists in California about similar threats, pointing to a disturbing pattern of behavior.
Voices from the diaspora, such as Sunita Viswanath of Hindus for Human Rights and Safa Ahmed of the Indian American Muslim Council, emphasized the seriousness of the situation.
They called on President Biden to acknowledge and communicate unequivocally that American lives, especially those of the diaspora, are to be protected.
The event in New York City was an act of protest, prompting urgent action to address the alleged cross-border violence. It highlighted the crucial role of democratic nations in safeguarding the rights and lives of individuals globally.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Deepfake video of Nirmala Sitharaman used to dupe Belagavi man in Rs 7.9 lakh scam
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): A 76-year-old man in Belagavi city was allegedly cheated of Rs 7.9 lakh in an online investment scam that used an AI-generated deepfake video misusing the name of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to lure investors, police said on Wednesday.
An online fraud case was registered at the cybercrime police station on May 1, they said.
According to Belagavi Police Commissioner Bhushan Gulabrao Borase, the victim, Prakash Gubbi, a senior citizen, stated in his complaint that in November last year, he came across a video on YouTube in which Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman appeared to endorse an investment scheme.
The video also mentioned a link in its description for making investments.
The victim clicked on the link, entered his details, and was later contacted on social media by a person identifying himself as Adarsh Anand, who persuaded him to invest, the officer told reporters.
Citing the complaint, the officer said the victim initially invested a small amount, after which the application began showing profits of USD 65,000.
When he attempted to withdraw the amount, the accused demanded a “customs duty” payment of Rs 4.2 lakh, claiming it was required to process the withdrawal.
The victim paid the amount, after which he was asked to pay an additional Rs 2 lakh. It was at this stage that he realised he had been cheated. In total, he lost around Rs 7.9 lakh in the fraud, the officer added.
A case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act, and police are investigating the matter, police said.
The commissioner cautioned the public not to trust such videos, stating that the finance minister does not endorse any such schemes.
He warned that such content is created using artificial intelligence and deepfake technology.
He further advised the public to remain vigilant, avoid offers that appear too good to be true on the internet, and invest only through legitimate, registered agencies or trusted channels.
Deepfake technology enables the creation of realistic videos, audio recordings, and images that can mislead viewers by superimposing one person’s likeness onto another, altering their words and actions. This can present a false narrative or spread misinformation.
