DGP M Mahender Reddy launched DOPAMS in the city that has been developed by the state’s counterintelligence (CI) cell for profiling, monitoring, and analysis of cases booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic substances Act, 1985. It is known that many in the city are worried about the increasing drug menace in the city and how easily some prohibited drugs are available in the city.In fact, Telangana CM KCR also held a high-level meeting and announced an out-and-out war against the drug menace on October 20. As a part of their crackdown on peddling and consumption of drugs in the city, Telangana police have introduced DOPAMS or Drug Offenders Profiling, Analysis and Monitoring System. DOPAMS happens to be software dedicated to up the war against drug trafficking.The software has been built on the data available on Crime and Criminal Tracking Network &amp; Systems (CCTNS). Already police have been cracking down on marijuana abuse and other drugs in a big way. Hundreds of FIRs have been filed, and many offenders are now behind bars. Despite all this, keeping track of offenders and their networks has turned out to be a major challenge to investigators.The DGP during the launch made it clear that the new software enables investigating officers to build, update and search profiles of known drug offenders. The software will help the investigating officer with all data regarding a person or a gang, their modus operandi, hot spots of drug peddling, cultivation, and supply. The software also keeps updating new information to keep the database up to date.Meanwhile, Telangana police have been under high pressure from activists that poor people are being harassed by police in the name of checks. However, Hyderabad police have denied all charges.

State Police Launches DOPAMS to Aid in its War Against Drugs

The administration is gearing up to fight Omicron - the new variant of Coronavirus if the need arises. Hyderabad Airport is put on alert. Those coming from the at-risk countries on the list announced by the central government will be tested for RT-PCR at airports and will move to TIMS if positive.It was decided to provide treatment there for all patients until the variant is determined. <a href="https://pages.razorpay.com/mapmygenome-covid">Mapmygenome</a> India Limited is providing the testing facility in the airport. But the passengers are complaining about fleecing in the name of COVID tests. RT-PCR is being charged 999 Rupees at the airport but the Report time is Six hours.So, that is useless for the passengers unless they are ready to wait for so long. If the report is needed in two hours, an additional amount of 3501 Rupees should be paid which makes the total 4,500 Rupees. The website for Pre-booking the COVID test says the reports may be slightly delayed even after that due to a surge in testing. People are demanding that the Government should immediately intervene and control the prices.

Fleecing In The Name Of COVID Tests In Hyderabad Airport

Recently we reported an unfortunate incident where actress Shalu Chourasiya was attacked and looted in a dark patch on the walkway of the KBR Park. In an attempt to make the area safer for walkers and step up security at KBR Park, Hyderabad police held a meeting with GHMC and forest officials at the park.On Wednesday, DCP West Zone, Hyderabad city AR Srinivas visited the park along with forest officials and GHMC. They assessed the current scenario in and around the park.Speaking to the media, Srinivas said that they identified some immediate steps that need to be taken up in coordination with other stakeholders to make the park more secure and safe for visitors. During the meeting, measures to increase the number of CCTV cameras in and around the park, improve illumination, beef up security to patrol the area 24/7, and the GHMC deploying guards were suggested.Even during odd hours, the preventive measures will focus on the safety of people. Actress Shalu Chourasiya’s incident exposed the security lapses and safety concerns at the park, and also the faulty CCTV cameras, on which the police have been depending heavily for detecting cases. All cameras in the area were repaired post this incident and brought into working condition. Vehicle and Foot patrolling have been intensified.

Security Beefed Up at KBR Park After Attack on Actress

On Wednesday, Bollywood ka Bhaijaan Salman Khan visited Hyderabad as part of a nationwide tour to promote his latest film Antim: The Final Truth. Hundreds turned up at Kukatpally's Sujana Mall to get a glimpse of their favorite star. The entire mall echoed with Salman Bhai and Sallu Bhai chants.&nbsp;While addressing his fans, Salman Khan talked about his love for the city of Hyderabad and how close it is to him.Salman said that he loves eating biryani in Hyderabad. As he landed in the city, the first thing he did was he ate Hyderabadi biryani.Dabanng actor also talked about his forthcoming films, where he will be teaming up with Telugu movie stars Chiranjeevi (Godfather) and Venkatesh. He also remembered the days when his sister Arpita got married to Aayush Sharma in Hyderabad at the Falaknuma Palace.Antim: The Final Truth is an official remake of the Marathi crime drama Mulshi Pattern. The movie has been produced by Salman Khan's production house. Salman Khan and Aayush Sharma (Salman's brother-in-law) are playing the lead roles in the movie.

Salman Khan Lands in Hyderabad, Heads Straightaway To Eat Biryani 

Cyberabad Commissioner of Police Stephen Ravindra had announced that a gang operating a fake call center under the name of State Bank Of India (SBI) has been arrested in Uttam Nagar, Delhi after a meticulous operation. He said it was the biggest cyber scam in the country.In a single year, 33,000 phone calls were made across the country, revealing that hundreds of crores of rupees had been defrauded. Fourteen people were arrested in the case. Thirty cell phones, three laptops, a car, and a bike were seized from the gang members. He said 209 cases have been registered across the country against the call center gang.They are committing fraud collecting client details from SBI agents. Farman Hussain is said to be the main culprit in the call center case. It has been revealed that clients' money is being looted through spoofing applications. They call from the number 1860 180 1290, collect card details and make money from gullible customers.

Cyberabad Cops Busts Biggest Cybercrime In The Country

A picture speaks a thousand words, says the old proverb. With the onset of social media, many feel the power of a picture or a photograph being able to tell a story has died. But the photographers who are part of the ongoing <a href="https://www.indianphotofest.com/">Indian Photo Festival</a> (IPF) Hyderabad 2021 at the State Art Gallery think otherwise.Visual storytelling that has increased thanks to Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook is no match to a photograph that tries to tell a story. Despite the visual clutter on these media, they still try to tell a story at the end of the day, and so is the case with a photograph. The essence of any photograph is to tell a story, shares Aquin Mathews, IPS founder, and artistic director.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/nbn-engine/uploads/45db8155a09dd695c09d5784963a621fc5ca0b57.jpg" alt=""> He further adds that exhibitions teach people to pause. There is no scrolling or swiping here. And the mobile screens are no match to viewing large-sized prints, says he candidly. He reiterates that photographs can be used to document, create an impact, speak the unspoken, flag social ills, and delicate subjects like mental health and climate.IPF has, in fact, partnered with National Geographic, and it is their photo editors that review the portfolios of photographers who are featured in IPF. Nat Geo also facilitates workshops, artist talks, and masterclasses on visual storytelling and editing. It also gives grants to photographers for commissioned projects.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/nbn-engine/uploads/73d6da14e458816f06abf5d9e8c2d6a5a9434c5f.jpg" alt=""> Incidentally, IPF is the longest-running international photography festival showcasing events from India and other countries. In the current edition, a mix of physical installations and virtual sessions will be on display till December 19. Strength, pain, weakness, helplessness, social ills, war and strife, and similar issues are highlighted in the pictures. Also, some pictures are quite sensitive, and IPF says they need viewer discretion.For example, there is city-based photographer Sathyaprasad Yachendra’s work about the mighty Himalayas, exposing the hostile climate, difficult terrain, and scale. Then there is Prashant Panjiar’s series titled ‘That which is unseen,’ and one picture is called Beti Bachao of a school teacher in Baiya village holding his two nieces. It dates back to 1988 and highlights the prevalence of female infanticide.Mathews, who happens to be a fashion photographer in India and Australia, says gear does not matter as much as the technique, composition, and use of photo elements do. He says if one has to add new equipment, then it has to be lenses to bring in a new perspective. He concludes by saying there is money in photography for quality work.

Virtual and Candid Photography Join to Tell Stories at Indian Photo Festival

Telangana Health Department has got alerted in the wake of the Omicron scare across the world. Surveillance has increased in the airports to monitor passengers arriving from 'At-Risk' countries. A 35-year-old woman who has come on British Airways to the airport in Hyderabad has tested positive for coronavirus. She is isolated at TIMS, Gachibowli.&nbsp;Samples taken from her were sent for whole-genome sequencing. Her health condition is good and she does not have any symptoms. Other passengers tested negative. Meanwhile, Public Health Director, G Srinivasa Rao has alerted people to be careful. "Not taking the vaccine at this point is "suicidal". Over 90,000 people in Hyderabad are due for a second dose but haven't taken. Across Telangana, this number is 25 Lakhs," he revealed.90% public of Telangana has taken the first dose, second dose coverage is just 47%. December 31st is the deadline to complete 100% vaccinations. Meanwhile, Srinivasa Rao reiterated that the rule of Rs 1000 fine will be strictly imposed for not masking in public places/transport. He also asked the citizens to carry double vaccination certificates or "vaccine passports" when venturing outside to parks, public transport, theaters, pubs, etc."Health staff will randomly come and verify the same," he says. The Health Department is mulling the option of making double vaccination mandatory for venturing out in public places.

Carry Your Vaccine Certificates, Surprise Checks Likely!

Telangana Government has decided to call off the Sunday Funday Program on Tank Bund this Sunday (December 5th). The decision has been taken in the wake of the Omicron coronavirus variant threat. "The decision has been taken as a matter of abundant precaution," the officials said.However, Tank Bund will be vehicle-free as usual on Sunday. HMDA, MA&amp;UD, and GHMC are organizing these events which have become popular with the kids as well as the elders. After that, Government has started organizing similar events at the historic Charminar as well. But then, the events have witnessed massive crowding and flouring COVID rules with no masks and social distancing.It was ignored until the COVID scare is not big. But then, with the rumors of the Omicron threat looming large, the Government has decided not to take the risk. The Government has also imposed mandatory quarantine for all the passengers coming from 'At Risk' countries. The samples are being sent for Genome sequencing. In case they test positive, they have to quarantine in Government facilities. In case they are tested negative, they have to home quarantine.

Omicron Effect: Sunday Funday Event Called Off

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (<a href="https://www.ghmc.gov.in/">GHMC</a>) council will be held on the 18th of this month. The standing committee's first meeting will happen ten days prior to that on December 8th. The first council meeting was held on June 29 this year in a virtual manner due to the Corona effect.The 2021-22 Annual Budget was approved after extensive discussion on fourteen questions asked by members of various parties. With the expiry of the Rangareddy District Local Bodies MLC Code, it has been decided to hold a meeting of the Council on the 18th of this month.This is the first in-person meeting of the GHMC Council after the elections. Mayor Vijayalakshmi has directed that the standing committee meeting be held with the recently elected Standing Committee members on the 8th of this month. From now on, the Standing Committee will meet weekly to approve works worth Rs 2 crore to Rs 3 crore.It is known to our readers that on November 23rd, 33 BJP corporators and party workers attacked the Mayor’s office at Tank Bund Road and vandalized the office demanding that the council meeting should be held immediately as there are several civic issues that need to be addressed.

First In-Person Council Meeting Of GHMC On 18th

Accidents are happening frequently on the Outer Ring Road (ORR). Until October this year, there were 214 accidents. 51 people were killed in these incidents and another 164 were injured. The ORR is 156.9 km long and has connectivity to Vijayawada, Bangalore, Mumbai, Nagpur, and Warangal highways. It carries an average of 1.44 lakh vehicles daily.Outer is preferred by those traveling to faraway places as it has connectivity to highways. The road is wide and accidents are happening due to the high speed. The ORR is under the purview of the Cyberabad and Rachakonda Police Commissionerates. Two commissionerates have studied the accidents for three years. Over speeding, insomnia, and drunken driving have been found to be causing more accidents due to insomnia.Those who travel to distant places are mostly traveling at night. They are tired during the journey and are traveling on the ORR in the early hours of the morning with insomnia. Many cars are involved in accidents in similar situations. Most road accidents occur on the ORR between 6 PM and 12 PM. People coming from faraway places are more likely to be involved in accidents between 3 am and 5 am.A speed limit of 100 kilometers per hour to prevent accidents on the ORR. But, no one is following those rules. We have been seeing people traveling at 150 to 200 km per hour. This is leading to accidents at 29 black spots. Traffic police have registered 3,91,449 cases with speed guns on speeding vehicles so far this year and fined them Rs 1,035 per vehicle. Due to the Winter season, vehicles are not visible due to fog in winter, and motorists are advised to be careful. The incidents of youth doing bike and car races are also being the reason for the accidents.

ORR Becoming Death Zone

Malls and multiplexes are not complying with the government's policy of not charging parking fees for vehicles in the city. Some citizens are complaining about this by posting the Parking slips on Twitter to the GHMC's Central Enforcement Cell (CEC), Enforcement Vigilance, and Disaster Management (EVDM) accounts.&nbsp;More than forty complaints have come via Twitter this month, and up to another fifty for my GHMC app and helpline numbers. Officials, who immediately fined some, said they would take action if others complain providing full details. The Government has canceled Parking fees in all commercial establishments in a few years.But then, since last month, the government has given permission to charge parking fees of Rs 20 for two-wheelers and Rs 30 for four-wheelers at single-screen theaters in the city to help them tide over the Pandemic crisis. Citing the same G.O., some malls, multiplexes, and supermarkets are also charge parking fees. It is clear in the G.O. that there is no need to pay parking fees in multiplexes and malls.&nbsp;Citizens are outraged that this is being ignored. GHMC officials said that if malls and multiplexes in the city violate the rules and charge parking fees, they should be complied with immediately. In case they do not, citizens can reach out to the corporation using Twitter and GHMC app or by calling 040 2111 1111 or 100.