Latest news with #AmitabhThakur
New Indian Express
16-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
20 senior IPS officers to helm important security duties during Rath Yatra in Puri
BHUBANESWAR: Around 20 senior IPS officers will be assigned various duties for Rath Yatra in Puri which is scheduled to commence from June 27. Sources said as per the tentative plan, Transport commissioner and ADG Amitabh Thakur will be in charge of temple security, inner cordon, and the chariots of the Trinity. He will be assisted by Crime Branch IG Sarthak Sarangi and Special Task Force (STF) DIG Pinak Mishra. Similarly, ADG (Modernisation) Saumyendra Kumar Priyadarsi will be in charge of outer cordon and crowd management. He will be supported by three to four IPS officers including North Central Range IG Satyabrata Bhoi, Special Armed Police (SAP) IG Awinash Kumar and DIG (Provisioning) Charan Singh Meena. ADG (Communication) Dayal Gangwar will be in charge of traffic and integrated control room and will be assisted by DIG Special Intelligence Wing (SIW) Kanwar Vishal Singh and Crime Branch DIG Battula Gangadhar. Director Intelligence RP Koche will be in charge of the overall intelligence sector and IG (Operations) Deepak Kumar will head the anti-terrorist squads. IG (Training), Biju Patnaik State Police Academy Anup Sahoo will handle the security of the VVIPs. Sources said though Odisha Police has not received any communication so far, it is making arrangements anticipating the visit of either President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Home Minister Amit Shah during Rath Yatra. The in-charge of force deployment, their welfare and logistics will be ADG SAP Rajesh Kumar, and ADG Law and Order Sanjay Kumar will lead the security sector.
The Hindu
13-06-2025
- The Hindu
Social activists demand impartial probe in constable assault case, allege role of senior police officer's son
Demanding an impartial probe in a case where a constable was allegedly beaten, dragged by his collar by four youths including reportedly the son of an Additional Director General (ADG)-rank officer, a group of civil society members on Friday (June 13, 2025) visited Hazratganj police station and met senior police officers amid conflicting claims and alleged deliberate inaction. The incident happened on the night of May 29 near K.D. Singh Babu Stadium's police outpost under Hazratganj police station limits. 'We learned during the place of occurrence visit that people from DGP's office visited the place for a few days after the incident, Lucknow police seized many CCTV cameras from the vicinity and took them away. We were told before the incident the group of four youths took food items from neighboring shop and didn't pay. We met DCP (East) and demanded legal action,' Amitabh Thakur, a former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and a social activist, who runs Azad Adhikar Sena, told The Hindu. In the case, the police constable was assaulted and locked inside a police outpost by four youths when he asked them to stop fighting. The four assaulters allegedly from affluent backgrounds, attacked the constable, tore his uniform, and vandalised government property. A First Information Report (FIR) filed on May 30 came out in public only on June 12. Three accused were arrested after the incident and later released on bail while the fourth accused, who escaped from the spot, is believed to be the son of a senior ADG-rank police officer.
Scroll.in
13-06-2025
- Business
- Scroll.in
Is WhatsApp ‘free'? Not when it monetises your data, says UP consumer panel
The Uttar Pradesh State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in April issued a ruling that could upend established principles about the scope of consumer protection law online. The panel has held that a complaint filed by a WhatsApp user is maintainable under the Consumer Protection Act. Until now, the act has only been invoked by users of paid online services as opposed to 'free' services like WhatsApp. This is because of Section 2(7) of the Act, which specifies that only those who pay consideration for services will qualify as consumers entitled to protection. The Uttar Pradesh panel's ruling is perhaps the first time that the user of a 'free' or zero cost app has successfully relied upon the act. Millions of Indians use 'free' apps for various essential services. Now, they can qualify as consumers and benefit from the protection of this act. Though users do not pay WhatsApp 'consideration' in the traditional sense, they do so with their data – the currency de rigueur of cyberspace. This data is monetised by platforms. Over time, data has become an ever more lucrative source of revenue, enriching platforms' bottom line in novel, previously unseen ways. Deficiency in service For about 18 months, Amitabh Thakur had been seeking compensation from WhatsApp for an alleged violation of the Consumer Protection Act. Thakur had filed a complaint in the Uttar Pradesh District Consumer Commission alleging that WhatsApp's service was ' unnecessarily interrupted for six hours' in violation of its terms of service. Thakur alleged that due to this disruption 'his work was affected'. The disruption constituted a deficiency in service under the Act that entitled him to compensatory relief. But the District Commission dismissed Thakur's complaint in March 2024, concluding that he was not eligible to seek relief under the Consumer Protection Act. The complaint was dismissed in part on the grounds that Thakur did not furnish any consideration, ie, something of value for availing WhatsApp's services. As a result, his claim fell outside the ambit of the Act, which only applies to paying consumers. Thakur appealed the decision. A little over a year later, the State Commission in April set aside the District Commission's order and held that Thakur is indeed a WhatsApp consumer entitled to the Act's protections. It sent his case back to the District Commission to be registered and heard on the merits. Why WhatsApp is not free Users of 'free' online platforms do not make any monetary payment when they sign up to use the services of these platforms. But that does not mean they don't provide anything of value to social media platforms – they provide their data. When users sign up to use online platforms such as WhatsApp they have to agree to the terms of service. These one-sided, non-negotiable standard form contracts specify that users don't have to pay the platforms but can use their services only if they agree to allow platforms to collect and process their data. The data that users hand over is the item of value provided to platforms in exchange for using these services for 'free'. In fact, platforms like Whatsapp not only collect user data, they obtain a licence from users to authorise the use of their data in various ways. Scholar John Newman points out that platforms 'reap…billions of dollars in annual revenues as a direct result of…[such] exchanges with users'. Value is extracted from data in the following ways: first, platforms formulate detailed profiles of users based on the troves of data they collect. Then they match advertisers' products with users based on their profiles. Targeted advertisements have a higher chance of translating into a sale than generic advertisements, thereby earning additional revenue for advertisers. Platforms also directly sell some of this data to interested parties, which go on to glean granular insights using sophisticated analytics tools. The rise of artificial intelligence will likely supercharge the process of monetising data. Platforms will derive even more uses from the data they collect, which will enable them to commercialise data in ways not yet foreseen. In this way, the value that users provide in the form of their data will only increase. The consumption of goods and services is increasingly taking place online. Courts and consumer forums should interpret the provisions of the Act in light of this new reality. If they remain rooted in a brick-and-mortar mindset wherein paying for services means paying monetarily, they will make these guardrails of consumer protection law inapplicable online when users pay for services with data. Instead of being wedded to an anachronistic outcome, consumer forums and courts should espouse a modern mindset for the digital age – one that recognises that user data does constitute consideration paid by consumers in exchange for services. Sachin Dhawan is a technology lawyer with over 15 years of experience. He has recently taught courses on cyber law at National Law University, Delhi and National Law School, Bangalore [PACE Programme].
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Time of India
RTOs asked to stop buses from overcharging during Rath Yatra
Bhubaneswar: Govt has asked RTOs to take comprehensive measures to protect Rath Yatra pilgrims from being overcharged by bus operators. Several joint enforcement teams, consisting of transport officials and police personnel, will be deployed to carry out surprise inspections of buses. State transport commissioner Amitabh Thakur said bus owners' associations have been cautioned against exploiting devotees, emphasising strict compliance with official fare rates. The current fare structure allows ordinary buses to charge 89 paisa per km, express buses 92 paisa per km, deluxe buses Rs 1.27 paisa per km, AC deluxe Rs 1.55 paisa per km and super premium buses Rs 2.41 paisa per km. "The govt is committed to prevent exploitation of devotees during their bus travels. We will lay emphasis on compliance with the actual bus fare structure by the transporters. They should not overcharge devotees during the festival period. The enforcement squads will conduct surprise checks and take action against violators," Thakur said. The enforcement drive will focus on routes connecting Puri with major destinations like Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Rourkela and Sambalpur. Officials will verify if operators are displaying fare charts prominently and adhering to approved rates. First-time offenders will face hefty fines, while repeat violations could result in permit cancellations. "This is a much-needed step. Every year, thousands of devotees face exploitation. Strict enforcement of the decision is required to ensure that the spiritual journey remains affordable for all," said Debasis Das, secretary of Srikhetra Swabhiman Mancha, a Puri-based social outfit. Transport authorities have urged bus operators to submit applications for special route permits to Puri from various districts and states during the festival. Previous year's Rath Yatra saw about 500 buses requesting special permits for routes connecting Puri. "We will ensure grant of special permits to bus operators promptly so that adequate buses are pressed on routes connecting Puri from other districts and states. Parking places are being finalised by the police," said another transport official. The govt plans to deploy 100 autorickshaws offering complimentary transport for devotees between Talabani bus stand and Zilla School Chhak for convenient access to the Grand Road.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Govt to hold brainstorming session to curb accidents
Bhubaneswar: State govt has decided to organise a 'chintan shivir' (brainstorming session) to curb the growing number of road accidents, transport officials said on Sunday. "Venue and schedule of the chintan shivir will be finalised by the govt. The initiative aims to bring together various stakeholders to formulate effective strategies for reducing road fatalities," transport secretary Usha Padhee said. Transport commissioner Amitabh Thakur said the proposed consultation programme will provide a platform to discuss and deliberate on road safety strategies. The brainstorming programme will include participation from road safety master trainers, investigation officers, healthcare professionals, educators and other stakeholders. "The session intends to strengthen their capabilities in advocating road safety and minimising accidents," Thakur said. Road accident deaths in Odisha increased by 7% in 2024 compared to 2023, according to Odisha police sources. Data showed fatalities rose to 6,142 in 2024 from 5,739 in 2023. Padhee said the proposed 'zero accident day' (ZAD) campaign will be launched soon with the help of IIT Madras, technical consultant of the Odisha govt on road safety matters. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Making history: These 5 timepieces set world records at Watches and Wonders Geneva 2025 CNA Read More Undo The campaign aims to transform the driving culture and promote road safety across the state. "ZAD involves massive awareness campaign in districts that witnessed a high number of deaths. Our approach combines psychological insights with practical solutions. We are not just creating rules; we need to understand why people make unsafe choices on roads and how to effectively change these patterns," a senior transport official said. IIT Madras has been advised by the transport department to analyse common traffic violations, accident-prone areas and factors contributing to road accidents. The institute will develop targeted interventions and awareness campaigns to promote safe driving habits.
