Indian authorities brought gangster Joginder Geong back to the country on Sunday after tracking his location to the Philippines. He has been booked in at least 24 cases and linked to designated terrorist Arsh Dalla. Geong first came under scrutiny amidst a Delhi Police investigation into the Kaushal Chaudhary and Davinder Bambhia crime syndicates.

According to investigators, the Bambhia syndicate had been working to facilitate criminal exchanges between Kaushal Chaudhary and pro-Khalistan elements abroad — particularly Lucky Patial and Arsh Dalla. Joginder Geong alias Joga Don was identified by the Delhi Police special cell as a critical off-shore node in manpower and logistics network fueling this terror-crime nexus.

Geong and his brother (now killed in police action) had also been involved in many criminal activities in northern India — spanning Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Delhi NCR.

The Delhi Police had subsequently worked in tandem with the Haryana Police to track down his location and monitor his activities in the Philippines. The two teams had then placed a joint request before central agencies to seek his deportation. Geong had been hiding in Bacold City with a fake ID when he was captured and brought back to India before being arrested.

New Delhi:

The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday confirmed that three Indian nationals who travelled to Iran for business purposes have gone missing.

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India has taken up the matter with both the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi and the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran, adding that the Indian government is in touch with the families of the missing nationals.

“Three Indian nationals who had gone to Iran for business purposes, they are missing. We are in touch with their families. We have taken up the matter with the Iranian Embassy in Delhi and with the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran,” Mr Jaiswal said in a weekly briefing today.

He added, “MEA and the Embassy of India in Tehran remain in touch with Iranian authorities and have requested for their assistance in locating the missing nationals and ensuring their safety.”

On Indians missing in Russia, Mr Jaiswal said, “We had said that out of the 18 people, 16 who have gone missing, we are in touch with the Russian authorities to look for them…”

MEA on January 17 confirmed that as many as 12 Indian nationals were killed while serving for the Russian Army in the Ukraine conflict, while 16 more are missing.

There were a total of 126 cases of Indian nationals serving in the Russian Army, and India is seeking an “early release” of those who are still there, Mr Jaiswal said.

“As of today, there have been 126 cases (of Indian nationals serving in the Russian Army). Of these 126 cases, 96 people have returned to India and have been discharged from the Russian Armed Forces. 18 Indian nationals in the Russian Army remain and out of them the whereabouts of 16 individuals are not known. The Russian side has categorised them as missing,” Mr Jaiswal said on January 17.

He added, “We are seeking early release and repatriation of those who remain…12 Indian nationals have died who were serving in the Russian Army.”Notably, several Indian nationals were allegedly duped into fighting in Russia’s war with Ukraine on the pretext of lucrative jobs.

Last year, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), busted a major human trafficking network running across the country targeting Indian nationals on the promise of offering lucrative jobs abroad but allegedly sending them to the Russia-Ukraine war zone.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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The Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya is the most significant ritual of the Maha Kumbh. (Photo: UP Information Dept)

A stampede took place at the Sangam in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj on Wednesday as large crowds thronged the ghats for a holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya amid the ongoing Maha Kumbh.

Officials haven’t issued an update on the number of casualties, but people with knowledge of developments told on condition of anonymity that at least 15 people are feared killed and around 70 injured in the stampede.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah called up Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath to take stock of the situation.

Vivek Mishra, a content creator from Prayagraj, said the devotees , many of whom were carrying luggage, had no idea where to go after bathing. “There were large number of dustbins that pilgrims could not seen. A few fell as they lost balance. Their luggage could be seen all over. I also fell as my feet got stuck in one of the dustbins. Lost my shoes. I was left barefoot. I sustained a foot injury. I somehow stood up and saved my parents and another woman lying on the ground. Youngsters in the crowd started pushing others. This situation led to stampede. I cannot describe what I saw…”

Also Read | Mauni Amavasya 2025: Date, shubh muhurat, rituals, significance and all you need to know about this auspicious day

Opposition hit out at the Centre over the stampede, with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge blaming “half-baked” arrangements and “paying more attention to self-promotion”. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav demanded that those responsible for falsely claiming a “world-class system” at the event take moral responsibility for the tragedy and step down from their positions.

More on Maha Kumbh:

• The Maha Kumbh began on January 13 and will continue until February 26.
• Devotees from various states and around the world have been immersing themselves in the spiritual atmosphere of the holy confluence.
• The Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya is the most significant ritual of the Maha Kumbh and is expected to draw around 10 crore pilgrims.
• This year, a rare celestial alignment called ‘Triveni Yog’ is occurring after 144 years, amplifying the spiritual significance of the day.
• The Uttar Pradesh government estimate that more than 45 crore people will attend the 2025 Maha Kumbh. Around 10 crore pilgrims alone are expected to attend Maha Kumbh on Mauni Amavasya.

India now has an answer to the prowess of Chinese DeepSeek. Volkai, an AI platform developed by Kairosoft AI Solutions Limited, was launched in 2025 and has quickly carved out its niche in the generative AI landscape. Positioned as India’s response to international players like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Midjourney, Volkai is touted as the first Indian AI model to offer integrated text and image generation.

Affordability and cultural relevance

While global AI platforms dominate the market, Volkai has a distinct edge with its focus on affordability and cultural relevance. According to the company, the platform is specifically designed to meet the needs of the Indian context, offering cost-effective solutions that make advanced AI accessible to a wider audience. This is a marked contrast to the more resource-intensive models offered by international competitors, which often come with high costs, making them inaccessible to many in India.

Is cultural intelligence a game-changer?

The platform’s cultural intelligence is another key differentiator. Volkai is equipped to generate content that is culturally sensitive and relevant to India’s diverse society. For example, its Vision Creator feature allows users to create images using culturally specific prompts like “Diwali-themed marketing poster” or “modern sari designs.” The AI’s ability to understand and reflect Indian customs, dialects, and social nuances is presented as a game-changer in a market where such considerations are often overlooked by foreign models.

Vision for Volkai

Santosh Kushwaha, CEO of Kairosoft AI Solutions Limited, shared his vision for the platform, explaining that the goal was not just to build a capable AI but one that truly comprehends the multifaceted needs of India. He pointed out that while global AI platforms may excel in technical aspects, they fail to understand the cultural and linguistic intricacies of India, leaving a gap that Volkai seeks to fill.

Affordability is another of Volkai’s selling points. Unlike its global competitors, which require high-end hardware and come with steep pricing, Volkai is claimed to be optimised for mid-range devices. This makes the platform more accessible to startups, small businesses, students, and individual creators. With a free tier and competitive pricing, it aims to democratise AI tools that were once considered a luxury.

Another feature that sets Volkai apart is the integration of text and image generation tools. By offering these capabilities in a single platform, Volkai eliminates the need for users to juggle multiple tools, saving both time and resources. This is particularly beneficial in industries such as marketing, education, and e-commerce, where content creation plays a pivotal role.

Competing on the global stage, challenges ahead

Despite these features, Volkai’s expansion into the global market remains uncertain. While it may have found a foothold in India, the platform faces stiff competition from well-established players in the US and China, who dominate the AI space. However, as Kushwaha notes, the success of Volkai lies in its ability to serve regional needs—a quality that is often absent in foreign models, which struggle to capture the cultural nuances of emerging markets like India.

The United States will impose tariffs on countries that “harm” America, President Donald Trump announced, naming China, India, and Brazil as examples of high-tariff nations. Speaking to House Republicans at a retreat in Florida, Trump said, “We’re going to put tariffs on outside countries and outside people that really mean harm to us. Well, they mean us harm, but they basically want to make their country good.”

America First: A shift in trade priorities

Highlighting his administration’s trade vision, Trump declared that the US would prioritise domestic prosperity over foreign benefits. “Look at what others do. China is a tremendous tariff maker, and India and Brazil and so many other countries. So we’re not going to let that happen any longer because we’re going to put America first,” he asserted.

Trump emphasised the urgency of returning to a system that made the US “richer and more powerful than ever before.”

Fair system and economic growth

Promising a “very fair system,” Trump projected that new tariffs would lead to economic gains for the US. “Money is going to come into our coffers, and America is going to be very rich again,” he said, adding that this would happen “very quickly.”

He also highlighted his administration’s goal to lower domestic taxes by increasing tariffs on foreign nations. “Under the America First economic model, as tariffs on other countries go up, taxes on American workers and businesses will come down, and massive numbers of jobs and factories will come home,” Trump said.

Call to build in America

Trump urged companies to set up manufacturing units within the US to avoid paying tariffs. “If you want to stop paying the taxes or the tariffs, you have to build your plant right here in America,” he said, adding, “We’re going to have more plants built in the next short period of time than anybody ever envisioned before because they have no tariff whatsoever.”

Support for key industries

The President pledged government support for industries such as pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and steel, while promising tariffs on materials critical for national defense. “We have to bring production back to our country. There was a time when we made one ship a day, and now we can’t build a ship. We don’t know what the hell we’re doing. It’s all gone to other locations and other lands,” he lamented.

Rare earth production to expand

Trump also announced plans to ease environmental restrictions to tap into the country’s rare earth reserves. “We have some of the best rare earth anywhere in the world, but we’re not allowed to use it because the environmentalists got there first,” he said, underscoring the need for resource independence.

Tariffs on BRICS countries

Trump reiterated his earlier stance on potentially slapping “100 percent tariffs” on the BRICS grouping, which includes India.

By prioritising tariffs and domestic production, the administration aims to reshape global trade dynamics in favor of American workers and industries.

Lucknow: A day after the UP STF arrested 43-year-old Suresh Kumar Sain, the mastermind of the nationwide ‘digital arrest’ cyber fraud syndicate, fresh details emerged during interrogation. Additional SP, STF, Vishal Vikram Singh, who led the operation to arrest Suresh, told TOI that the interrogation of Suresh Kumar Sain revealed that the 43-year-old gang leader was back in India to recruit fresh hands for the gang. Sain was arrested at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, upon his return from Cambodia on Sunday.
Sain had been on the run since November 2024 when the STF arrested 11 of his associates in connection with a Rs 48 lakh fraud case in Lucknow. The victim, a doctor, was tricked into believing that he was facing legal action and transferring the money over two days. The STF said that during his initial questioning, it was revealed that he planned to interview new recruits in Delhi. These candidates were shortlisted by his gang members based on their proficiency in spoken English and their familiarity with police procedures in various Indian states. “The candidates selected were to be trained using one-month video tutorials before being formally inducted into the syndicate. The videos, developed by AI tools, showed Suresh impersonating officers in different uniforms from agencies such as the CBI, Narcotics Control Bureau, ED, and Crime Branch of different states, deceiving victims into believing they were under investigation. Through fear and manipulation, the syndicate extorted substantial sums of money,” said the STF. Those trained were then tested by giving small tasks of ‘digitally arresting’ the gullible. The gang members were offered 45% commission of the total amount, distributed amongst themselves, while the remaining 55% share was taken by Suresh.
ASP Singh said that the mastermind moved to Cambodia in April 2023, where he became part of an international cyber fraud network. “Operating out of Chinese-run call centres, the syndicate targeted individuals in India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh with fraudulent schemes such as fake investment opportunities and digital arrests,” said the officer.
Suresh, a class 10 dropout from Rajasthan, not only participated in these scams but also played a pivotal role in recruiting others. He brought over 75 individuals to Cambodia, earning USD 1,000 in commission for each recruit. The accused later opened two restaurants in Cambodia, which he used as fronts for his illegal activities, the officer added.
Lucknow: A day after the UP STF arrested 43-year-old Suresh Kumar Sain, the mastermind of the nationwide ‘digital arrest’ cyber fraud syndicate, fresh details emerged during interrogation. Additional SP, STF, Vishal Vikram Singh, who led the operation to arrest Suresh, told TOI that the interrogation of Suresh Kumar Sain revealed that the 43-year-old gang leader was back in India to recruit fresh hands for the gang. Sain was arrested at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, upon his return from Cambodia on Sunday.
Sain had been on the run since November 2024 when the STF arrested 11 of his associates in connection with a Rs 48 lakh fraud case in Lucknow. The victim, a doctor, was tricked into believing that he was facing legal action and transferring the money over two days. The STF said that during his initial questioning, it was revealed that he planned to interview new recruits in Delhi. These candidates were shortlisted by his gang members based on their proficiency in spoken English and their familiarity with police procedures in various Indian states. “The candidates selected were to be trained using one-month video tutorials before being formally inducted into the syndicate. The videos, developed by AI tools, showed Suresh impersonating officers in different uniforms from agencies such as the CBI, Narcotics Control Bureau, ED, and Crime Branch of different states, deceiving victims into believing they were under investigation. Through fear and manipulation, the syndicate extorted substantial sums of money,” said the STF. Those trained were then tested by giving small tasks of ‘digitally arresting’ the gullible. The gang members were offered 45% commission of the total amount, distributed amongst themselves, while the remaining 55% share was taken by Suresh.
ASP Singh said that the mastermind moved to Cambodia in April 2023, where he became part of an international cyber fraud network. “Operating out of Chinese-run call centres, the syndicate targeted individuals in India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh with fraudulent schemes such as fake investment opportunities and digital arrests,” said the officer.
Suresh, a class 10 dropout from Rajasthan, not only participated in these scams but also played a pivotal role in recruiting others. He brought over 75 individuals to Cambodia, earning USD 1,000 in commission for each recruit. The accused later opened two restaurants in Cambodia, which he used as fronts for his illegal activities, the officer added.