Theft of dockless bikes like Bounce to be treated as criminal offence: B'luru police

Bike Rentals

Bounce operates dockless bike rental services and sees at least 2000 cases of theft and vandalism per month in Bengaluru.

TNM Staff

Smart mobility player Bounce which provides a dockless bike rental service has been hit by various cases of theft and vandalism. Bounce allows users to pick up and drop off scooters at designated parking spots. The company says that in Bengaluru, Bounce witnesses at least 2000 cases of theft and vandalism every month. The company has now met with Bhaskar Rao, Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru and senior police officials, who have said that cases of bike vandalism and theft will be treated as a criminal offence and thoroughly investigated until the offender is penalised. The 2000 cases per month that Bounce sees includes theft of helmets, scooter parts and vandalism. “We are very happy with the decision taken by Mr Bhaskar Rao, Commissioner of Police, and wish to do our best to support Bengaluru City Police. We are using cutting edge technology to solve a number of problems that our customers face. This ensures that our bikes are safer and we have all relevant data on who uses our scooters where, when and how. This step by the Police will not only reduce misuse of our scooters, but also ensure that our customers have a better experience using them,” said Anil G, Co-Founder and COO, Bounce. The company will share data of these offenders with the police. Every time a customer uses a Bounce scooter, the company captures details of the user, the ride and the bike. This also includes details about date, time, location, etc. Bounce also collects data on usage and parking pattern. “When a Bounce bike is found damaged, parked wrongly or used for illegal purposes, Bounce is in a position to identify the users with fair accuracy. This data can be shared with the Police to assist in their investigation,” Vivekananda Hallekere, CEO and Co-Founder, Bounce said. A user is blacklisted if he has more than three cases against him. Over the last few months, Bounce shared relevant and timely data with the police that helped them solve more than 17 cases. Bounce says that it also has a common database with a list of offenders, who are ranked according to its behaviour rating system. “This database is shared with other mobility players and they can be barred from using the platform. We are also in conversation with financial institutions and insurance companies to impact the credit score of serial offenders,” Vivekananda adds. On its part, Bounce has also started equipping its bikes with tilt and tow sensors. It is also making its helmets IoT enabled, which it says makes it difficult to steal them.   Currently, Bounce has dockless services only in Bengaluru and the company says that as and when it initiates dockless service in other cities, it will look at having similar discussions with the authorities in those cities. 

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Bengaluru police forbids Ola, Uber from using alternate routes to airport

Public Safety

This comes days after an Ola driver dumped a 32-year-old woman on the BK Halli-Bagalur road, which is the alternate route often taken to and from Bengaluru airport.

TNM Staff

The Bengaluru police have issued an advisory to all cab aggregators that alternate routes to the Kempegowda International Airport must not be taken by its drivers between 7 pm and 7 am. The advisory was issued on Friday, days after an Ola driver dumped a 32-year-old woman on the BK Halli-Bagalur road. The woman had pressed the emergency button as she realized that the driver was taking the alternate road, which has no street lights. The driver allegedly refused to call his supervisor and Ola allegedly took two hours to respond to her calls for help. The police arrested the Ola cab driver on Thursday, after the victim filed a complaint with the International Airport Police on Monday. Speaking to TNM, Bengaluru Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao said, “That road has not yet been illuminated. We have issued an advisory to all cab aggregators that alternate routes cannot be taken to KIA between 7 pm and 7 am.” He further stated that in case of non-compliance, the Bengaluru Police would prepare a document to the effect that the said cab aggregators have violated norms pertaining to passenger safety and thereby cancel their trade license. “We have issued a strict advisory that all measures to ensure passenger safety must be complied with. If they don’t, we will cancel their license,” he said. “That road is not safe currently and it cannot be used unless it is marked safe. So many warnings have been issued but drivers continue to take this route. We will take strict action if the advisory is not adhered to,” he added. In a statement, Ola said that all driver-partners have been instructed not to take alternate routes to KIA.  "As per the advisory issued by the authorities, we have issued strict instructions to all driver-partners to access the city only through the toll-road; any deviations will lead to immediate termination from the platform,” Ola’s statement reads. The alternate BK Halli-Bagalur is often opted for by cab drivers instead of the NH44 road as this alternate road allows them to reach the airport quicker from areas like Whitefield. Additionally, drivers choose this road to avoid paying the toll on NH44. However, the road has been flagged by users as unsafe.  In July this year, an event manager from Kolkata, Pooja Singh Dey, was allegedly killed by an Ola cab driver while she was travelling to the airport. The driver had allegedly murdered her after he attempted to rob her.

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CEO of Bengaluru startup arrested for allegedly posting obscene photos of ex-girlfriend online

Crime

Rahul Singh allegedly posted the photos while there was already a complaint of stalking against him.

Soumya Chatterjee

Police in Bengaluru have arrested 28-year-old Rahul Singh, the CEO of a Bengaluru-based startup for allegedly posting obscene photographs of his former girlfriend on Instagram. The arrest was made on Thursday after the accused was booked under various sections of the Information Technology Act based on a complaint. Deputy Commissioner of Police Bengaluru SouthEast Isha Pant confirmed the arrest and said the accused would be produced in court on Friday.  The sections are related to punishment for violation of privacy and transmiting images of a private persons without his/her consent. Police have also seized his laptop and mobile phone. Rahul posted these photos despite the police filing an FIR against him on September 12 on the woman's complaint that he was stalking her and broke into her house. Her complaint at HSR Layout Police also accused Rahul of acessing her Facebook without her permission, and stealing her phone. In that case Rahul was booked under relevant sections of Information Technology Act and sections 354A (punishment for sexual harassment), 507 (criminal intimidation by anonymous communication), 506 (criminal intimidation), 354D (punishment for stalking), 448 (punishment for house-trespass) and 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace) of the IPC. Read: Bengaluru startup CEO allegedly stalks ex-girlfriend, breaks into her house The complainant speaking to TNM had alleged that the police were initially reluctant to take action and she had to meet the jurisdictional DCP twice for the police to even register an FIR. She had also alleged that the accused’s father who holds an influential central government job called her mother and said that he would not be responsible for the repercussions of the FIR, after which the complainant approached the Commissioner of Police.  Speaking to TNM, the lawyer of the complainant, said, “There is fear about her life and liberty in spite of her lodging complaint before HSR Police Station. They have taken her complaint very lightly as the accused father is very influential, they were not ready to acknowledge and act according to her complaint. It is only after the direction of DCP as an empty formality they have registered the case. There is a constant and continuous threat. The accused has been never mended his behaviour because of the money and power of his father.”

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CEO of Bengaluru startup arrested for allegedly posting obscene photos of ex-girlfriend online

Crime

Rahul Singh allegedly posted the photos while there was already a complaint of stalking against him.

Soumya Chatterjee

Police in Bengaluru have arrested -- year old, Rahul Singh, the CEO of a Bengaluru-based startup for allegedly posting obscene photographs of his former girlfriend on Instagram. The arrest was made on Thursday after the accused was booked under various sections of the Information Technology Act based on a complaint. Deputy Commissioner of Police Bengaluru SouthEast Isha Pant confirmed the arrest and said the accused would be produced in court on Friday.  The sections are related to punishment for violation of privacy and transmiting images of a private persons without his/her consent. Police have also seized his laptop and mobile phone. Rahul posted these photos despite the police filing an FIR against him on September 12 on the woman's complaint that he was stalking her and broke into her house. Her complaint at HSR Layout Police also accused Rahul of acessing her Facebook without her permission, and stealing her phone. In that case Rahul was booked under relevant sections of Information Technology Act and sections 354A (punishment for sexual harassment), 507 (criminal intimidation by anonymous communication), 506 (criminal intimidation), 354D (punishment for stalking), 448 (punishment for house-trespass) and 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace) of the IPC. Read: Bengaluru startup CEO allegedly stalks ex-girlfriend, breaks into her house The accused speaking to TNM had alleged that the police were initially reluctant to take action and she had to meet the jurisdictional DCP twice for the police to even register an FIR. She had also alleged that the accused’s father who holds an influential central government job called her mother and said that he would not be responsible for the repercussions of the FIR, after which the complainant approached the Commissioner of Police.  Speaking to TNM, the lawyer of the complainant, said, “There is fear about her life and liberty in spite of her lodging complaint before HSR Police Station. They have taken her complaint very lightly as the accused father is very influential, they were not ready to acknowledge and act according to her complaint. It is only after the direction of DCP as an empty formality they have registered the case. There is a constant and continuous threat. The accused has been never mended his behaviour because of the money and power of his father.”

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Ola driver held after B’luru woman's complaint over use of alternate route from airport

Arrest

The woman had filed a complaint against the driver who had dropped her on an abandoned area on Begur road while coming into the city from the airport.

TNM Staff

Image for representation

Bengaluru police have arrested an Ola cab driver following a complaint given by a 32-year-old woman from the city who had filed a complaint after he opted to take an alternative route while coming into the city from the Kempegowda International Airport. It all began on Monday when the woman Shikha*, was travelling in an Ola cab from Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport. She noticed within minutes of the ride that the driver was not taking the NH44 route and was instead going towards the BK Halli-Bagalur route. She asked the driver to stop the car and repeatedly pressed the emergency button. She was in an empty and isolated area and asked the driver to call his supervisor. Not only did he refuse, but he also asked her to get out of the car. Shikha claimed that she received no help from Ola for over two hours and that she finally managed to call a friend who was leaving from the airport and got a ride with them. She then filed a complaint at the Bengaluru Airport police station, but an FIR had not been filed as there was “no offence.” The airport police have also issued a notice to Ola and have reportedly asked them to respond within two days. Many cab drivers opt to take the BK Halli-Bagalur instead of the NH44 road as this alternate road allows them to reach the airport quicker from areas like Whitefield. Additionally, drivers are also able to avoid paying the toll on NH44. This isn’t the first time that a passenger’s safety has been threatened while traveling on this road. Earlier in August, a 32-year-old model from Kolkata was murdered by a cab driver who allegedly tried to rob her. The driver was later arrested by the police and he confessed to the crime.  Name changed*

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‘StopUrArroganceDVS’ trends on Twitter after Union Min Sadananda Gowda blocks columnist

Politics

Union Minister DV Sadananda Gowda stirred controversy after he allegedly blocked columnist Chakravarthy Sulibele on Twitter for slamming PM Modi over the delay in flood relief for Karnataka.

TNM Staff

What started out as an indignant statement slamming the Centre for delaying relief funds to flood victims in Karnataka soon turned into a full fledged Twitter battle, with users expressing their support for columnist Chakravarthy Sulibele, who was allegedly blocked by Union Minister Sadananda Gowda. ‘StopUrArroganceDVS’ began trending on the microblogging platform after several people took notice that Union Minister DV Sadananda Gowda had apparently blocked Chakravarthy after the latter made statements against the Prime Minister and the Central Government. Following this, the Union Minister took to the platform to criticise those who spoke out against the government about the delay in the release of funds. “Dear @narendramodi ji, Your cabinet colleague @DVSadanandGowda called @astitvam Anna, a Deshadrohi for asking flood relief fund. #StopUrArroganceDVS #NotFairModiji #IamWithChakravarthySulibele,” stated one individual on Twitter. Dear @narendramodi ji, Your cabinet colleague @DVSadanandGowda called @astitvam Anna, a Deshadrohi for asking flood relief fund. #StopUrArroganceDVS#NotFairModiji #IamWithChakravarthySulibele https://t.co/tn78fj1gvW — Vrushab Kolhar (@kolhar_vrushab) October 3, 2019 “Dear @narendramodi ji, Take stringent action against @DVSadanandaGowda for his arrogant statement to the people of Karnataka. We have asked for aid, where many of the people are suffering after massive flood. We are not asking anybody's asset. #NotFairModiji #StopUrArroganceDVS,” reads the tweet by another. Dear @narendramodi ji, Take stringent action against @DVSadanandaGowda for his arrogant statement to the people of Karnataka. We have asked for aid, where many of the people are suffering after massive flood. We are not asking anybody's asset.#NotFairModiji#StopUrArroganceDVS — ದೇವಿ ಪ್ರಸಾದ್ ಆಳ್ವ (@sevatmika) October 3, 2019 It all began when columnist Chakravarthy Sullibele called for the Centre to provide relief funds to the victims of the recent floods in the state of Karnataka. "In flood affected states, reports for immediate relief, mid-term and long term relief have been prepared by the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman," the minister replied on Twitter. Following this, on Wednesday, Chakravarthy took to Twitter to call out the Minister.  "Lol! This man came now. @DVSadanandGowda I feel bad for those who believe that the people of North Karnataka are being misled. Do not forget that your ministership is the alms given by the people to you. Which of these is a solution to releasing funds for flood relief?" he said. Two hours later, the columnist then posted a Tweet and noted that he seemed to have been blocked by Sadananda Gowda. Sadananda Gowda claimed that he did not block him but the same was due to the global outage Twitter faced on Wednesday.

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ISRO to showcase space science in 7 Karnataka colleges

ISRO

ISRO will be marking the 'World Space Week' of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) from October 4 to 10.

IANS

To mark the 'World Space Week' of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday said it would showcase the benefits of space science to students of seven colleges in Karnataka from October 4 to 10.  "The U.R. Rao Satellite Centre has teamed up with seven colleges to tell students the benefits of our space programme to attract them to science & technology stream," said the ISRO in a statement. The seven institutions are: Poornaprajan Pre-university College at Udupi; SJM Institute of Technology, Chitradurga; Konkan Education Trust High School, Kumta; R.V. College of Engineering, Bengaluru; Tontadarya College of Education, Gadag; Sri Sai Vidyaniketan Residential School, Shahpur; and Siddaganga Institute of Technology, Tumkur. Competitions for students, exhibition models of satellites, posters, videos and talks about the Indian space programme were part of the agenda, said ISRO. The satellite centre designs, develops and makes satellites for the space programme to serve key sectors and spur national development. The UN observes the space week every year from October 4 to 10, coinciding with the launch of the first man-made earth satellite -- Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957 -- and the signing of the Outer Space Treaty on October 10, 1967.

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