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By:

Correspondent

23 August 2024 at 4:29:04 pm

Hostage City

For a city that prides itself on never stopping, Mumbai has been brought to a grinding halt by the stoppage of one of its most indispensable services. The indefinite strike by employees of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking has effectively paralysed the city’s bus network, leaving millions of commuters stranded and exposing deep fissures in the management of one of India’s largest urban transport systems. BEST ferries around 25 lakh passengers daily through a...

Hostage City

For a city that prides itself on never stopping, Mumbai has been brought to a grinding halt by the stoppage of one of its most indispensable services. The indefinite strike by employees of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking has effectively paralysed the city’s bus network, leaving millions of commuters stranded and exposing deep fissures in the management of one of India’s largest urban transport systems. BEST ferries around 25 lakh passengers daily through a fleet of nearly 2,800 buses. Yet over the past three days, the city has witnessed the near-total collapse of this network. On the first day of the strike, only a few dozen buses operated. By the weekend, not a single BEST-owned or wet-lease bus was on the roads. Local trains, Metro services, taxis and autorickshaws have been forced to absorb the shock and are predictably straining under the burden. The strike may be illegal under the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA), and the industrial court may have ordered employees back to work. Yet laws and court orders cannot substitute for sound governance. When a public utility reaches the point where thousands of workers are willing to risk disciplinary action and legal consequences, it signals a failure that predates the strike itself. The demands raised by the unions are hardly new. Employees have long sought implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations, settlement of retirement dues, an end to contractualisation and the merger of the BEST budget with that of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. Whether one agrees with every demand is beside the point. What is striking is that these issues have been allowed to fester for years without a credible roadmap for resolution. Equally troubling is the government’s reactive approach. Ministers and officials rushed into negotiations only after services collapsed and public inconvenience reached intolerable levels. Such crisis management has become a familiar feature of governance. The unions, too, must recognise the wider consequences of their actions. Public transport is the bloodstream of a city. Every day the strike continues, daily wage earners lose income and ordinary citizens bear higher travel costs. The disruption disproportionately hurts those who can least afford alternatives. Holding Mumbai hostage may attract attention to legitimate grievances, but also risks eroding public sympathy. Mumbai has spent years celebrating new Metro corridors, coastal roads and grand infrastructure projects. Yet the humble bus remains the most affordable and accessible mode of transport for millions. Policymakers often treat BEST as an ageing institution to be managed rather than a vital public service to be strengthened. The increasing reliance on contract workers and wet-lease operations may reduce immediate costs, but also weakens institutional stability and labour relations. A city of Mumbai’s scale cannot afford a public transport system perpetually balanced on the edge of financial distress, labour unrest and administrative uncertainty. Nor can it depend on emergency measures whenever disputes arise.

Essential Tips to Stay Safe Online

Updated: Oct 22, 2024

The increasing number of cybercrimes occurring daily is both alarming and traumatic. No one is exempt; it affects nearly everyone—rich or poor, educated or uneducated, men and women, young and old. The criminals are often invisible or use fake identities, while victims tend to be gullible and unsuspecting. Most do not report these crimes due to shame, fear, or lack of awareness. By the time they realise they've been cheated, significant time has passed, allowing the criminals to complete their transactions and withdraw the funds.


The nature of cybercrime varies by location and incident, taking many forms, including fake investment portals, enticing job offers, fraudulent matrimonial proposals, and so-called "digital arrests." These crimes often start with a call from an unknown person making attractive offers or threats about non-existent crimes. Criminals may impersonate gas company representatives, asking for personal information and bank details, or send emails requesting banking information. In some cases, victims receive video calls where they are "digitally arrested" and pressured to make large payments, with fraudsters preventing them from leaving until the payment is made.


Victims include retirees seeking high-return investments, unemployed youth searching for jobs, and young women interested in marriage proposals. Some women face blackmail or threats of compromising photo publication. Cybercriminals employ various tactics—false promises, unusual returns, and exploitation of greed or dreams—to lure victims. Surprisingly, even those savvy in social media, mobile technology, and computers, including individuals with substantial funds, often fall prey to these schemes.


In some cases, law enforcement agencies have arrested criminals but remain unaware of where the money has gone. On October 10, 2024, the NIA (National Investigative Agency) stated, “Investigations revealed that five individuals trafficked vulnerable Indian youth to the Golden Triangle Region in Laos, forcing them to commit cyber scams targeting European and American citizens. They operated through the consultancy firm All International Services, which served as a front for human trafficking” (The Perfect Voice, October 11, 2024). Many of the real culprits behind these cybercrimes are based in China or Pakistan, causing chaos in countries like India, the USA, and the UK.


Apart from registering offences under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the I.T. Act under various provisions, the RBI and other public and private banks are constantly alerting their customers and the public, in general, to guard against fraudsters and not to disclose their account details or not fall prey to any links for rewards. They have also publicised their helplines, where the victims are asked to report at the earliest.


The Government of India has issued helpline no. 1930, and the website for victims to report is https://www.cybercrime.gov.in.

The Department of Telecommunications has also launched the Mjw portal for reporting suspected fraud and unsolicited commercial communication received in the last 30 days. You can access the portal via this link: https://services.india.gov.in/service/detail/chakshu-report-suspected-fraud-communication


The portal offers several services, including:

• Identifying your wireline internet service provider.

• Reporting international calls that appear to have an Indian number.

• Checking the number of connections issued in your name.

• Verifying your mobile device using its IMEI number.


India Cybercrime Coordination Centre

The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) was established by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in New Delhi to provide a coordinated framework for Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) to address cybercrime comprehensively. I4C serves as the nodal point for combating cybercrime across the country.

I4C focuses on raising awareness and training law enforcement officers as Cyber `moÕm (Cyber Warriors), having trained thousands of police officers in handling cybercrime. It also spreads awareness on social media through Cyber XmoñV (Cyber Friends) campaigns.


For safe practices to prevent cybercrime, visit I4C's website. Some key tips include:

1. Avoid pop-ups, unknown emails, and suspicious links.

2. Use strong passwords and multi-factor authentication.

3. Regularly update and back up your data.


The portal also outlines various categories of cybercrimes., such as, cryptocurrency crime, cyber terrorism, hacking, social media-related crimes, etc.


I urge everyone using computers, mobiles, or other electronic devices to avoid responding to calls, emails, or video calls from unknown numbers, whether in India or abroad. If you choose to respond, verify the caller's details first. Staying vigilant is essential to protect your life, money, dignity, and reputation from the growing threat of cybercriminals.


The Government of India must ensure its portals and helplines are available 24/7 and user-friendly for easy access. It should also secure personal data shared with online platforms, banks, and investment centres, as fraudsters often exploit this information. Legal measures must be introduced to prevent data breaches, with strict penalties for those responsible for leaks. Additionally, the government should study technological innovations from advanced countries to effectively track and apprehend cybercriminals. Strengthening coordination with international organisations and foreign governments is crucial to protecting Indians from these borderless threats.


(The author is former DGP, Maharashtra. Views personal.)

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