Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Jhakri waterfalls ghost story is a hoax

The mystery behind the ghost story at the waterfalls is solved and it can be called a beautiful masterpiece of Adobe Photoshop. All thanks to BP Bajgain daju of http://haalkhabar.net, he finally came up with the result that the photograph was morphed with the help of Computer forensics. Ever since the day the photograph came into highlight we were in close contact about this matter and we wanted to come up with a conclusion. 
 
According to his article published on his website Haalkhabar, Photoshop IRB was detected. Computer forensics is a branch of forensic science pertaining to legal evidence found in computers and digital storage media.

from Haalkhabar.net 
A photo boy with Ban Jhankri Falls Ghost debunked

Gangtok, June 25: Everybody in Gangtok is confused about a ghostly image near the boy, the image was consecutively passed from one mobile to another via Bluetooth for a few days. This is known as the Jhakri Falls Lyam-lyame Ghost named ‘Invisible’ and was taken somewhere not known but rumour floated that the photo was taken at Ban Jhakri Falls of Gangtok.

The boy in the picture is not detected yet but as per the chitchat story behind the photograph the boy in the picture died after visiting Ban Jhakri falls the same night. According to one blog, http://sikhim.blogspot.com operated by Shital Pradhan of Singtam, East Sikkim, the photographs do not belong to the famed tourist spot Ban Jhakri Falls but could be nearby ones.

The image has also caused a stir in the Capital of Sikkim, appearing in local media Thursday, and now thanks to modern technology it has been officially labelled as a hoax by the http://haalkhabar.net expert team. Haalkhabar office termed it as “Ghost Captured”. The details of the computer Forensics performed on JPEGsnoop 1.3.0 by Calvin Hass reveal that the image is processed/edited.
 
Computer forensics is a branch of forensic science pertaining to legal evidence found in computers and digital storage media. The details of the forensics test are as follows:
 
Filename: [C:\Documents and Settings\Indra\Desktop\Invisible.jpg]
Filesize: [976575] Bytes
Start Offset: 0×00000000
*** Marker: SOI (xFFD8) ***
OFFSET: 0×00000000
*** Marker: APP0 (xFFE0) ***
OFFSET: 0×00000002
length     = 16
identifier = [JFIF]
version    = [1.2]
density    = 300 x 300 DPI (dots per inch)
thumbnail  = 0 x 0
*** Marker: APP1 (xFFE1) ***
OFFSET: 0×00000014
length          = 7862
Identifier      = [Exif]
Identifier TIFF = x[49 49 2A 00 08 00 00 00 ]
Endian          = Intel (little)
TAG Mark x002A  = x[002A]
EXIF IFD0 @ Absolute x[00000026]
Dir Length = x[000A]
[Make                                ] = Nokia
[Model                               ] = N72
[Orientation                         ] = 1
[XResolution                         ] = 3000000/10000
[YResolution                         ] = 3000000/10000
[ResolutionUnit                      ] = 2
[Software                            ] = Adobe Photoshop CS3 Windows
[DateTime                            ] = 2009:06:06 21:01:26
[YCbCrPositioning                    ] = 1
[ExifOffset                          ] = x00CC
Offset to Next IFD = [00000234]
EXIF IFD1 @ Absolute x[00000252]
Dir Length = x[0006]
[Compression                         ] = 6
[XResolution                         ] = 72/1
[YResolution                         ] = 72/1
[ResolutionUnit                      ] = 2
[JpegIFOffset                        ] = 658
[JpegIFByteCount                     ] = 7196
Offset to Next IFD = [00000000]
EXIF SubIFD @ Absolute x[000000EA]
Dir Length = x[0016]
[ExposureTime                        ] = 59213/1000000
[FNumber                             ] = 32/10
[ISOSpeedRatings                     ] = 64
[ExifVersion                         ] = x30323230
[DateTimeOriginal                    ] = 2008:10:04 12:45:36
[DateTimeDigitized                   ] = 2008:10:04 12:45:36
[ComponentConfiguration              ] = x00030201
[ShutterSpeedValue                   ] = 4077/1000
[ApertureValue                       ] = 336/100
[LightSource                         ] = 0
[Flash                               ] = 0
[FocalLength                         ] = 45/10
[FlashPixVersion                     ] = x30303130
[ColorSpace                          ] = 1
[ExifImageWidth                      ] = 1600
[ExifImageHeight                     ] = 1200
[CustomRendered                      ] = 0
[ExposureMode                        ] = 0
[WhiteBalance                        ] = 0
[DigitalZoomRatio                    ] = 100/100
[SceneCaptureType                    ] = 0
[GainControl                         ] = 1
*** Marker: APP13 (xFFED) ***
OFFSET: 0×00001ECC
length          = 8710
Identifier      = [Photoshop 3.0]
8BIM: [0x0404] Name(0)=[] Len=[0x0007]
IPTC [0x1C02:000] Record Version = [0x0000]
8BIM: [0x0425] Name(0)=[] Len=[0x0010]
8BIM: [0x03ED] Name(0)=[] Len=[0x0010]
8BIM: [0x0426] Name(0)=[] Len=[0x000E]
8BIM: [0x040D] Name(0)=[] Len=[0x0004]
8BIM: [0x0419] Name(0)=[] Len=[0x0004]
8BIM: [0x03F3] Name(0)=[] Len=[0x0009]
8BIM: [0x040A] Name(0)=[] Len=[0x0001]
8BIM: [0x2710] Name(0)=[] Len=[0x000A]
8BIM: [0x03F5] Name(0)=[] Len=[0x0048]
8BIM: [0x03F8] Name(0)=[] Len=[0x0070]
8BIM: [0x0408] Name(0)=[] Len=[0x0010]
8BIM: [0x041E] Name(0)=[] Len=[0x0004]
8BIM: [0x041A] Name(0)=[] Len=[0x034B]
8BIM: [0x0428] Name(0)=[] Len=[0x000C]
8BIM: [0x0414] Name(0)=[] Len=[0x0004]
8BIM: [0x040C] Name(0)=[] Len=[0x1C38]
8BIM: [0x0421] Name(0)=[] Len=[0x0055]
8BIM: [0x0406] Name(0)=[] Len=[0x0007]
Photoshop Save As Quality        = [12]
Photoshop Save Format            = [Optimized]
*** Marker: APP1 (xFFE1) ***
OFFSET: 0×000040D4
length          = 4623
Identifier      = [http://ns.adobe.com]
Not EXIF. Skipping remainder.
*** Marker: APP2 (xFFE2) ***
OFFSET: 0×000052E5
length          = 3160
Identifier      = [ICC_PROFILE]
Not Flashpix. Skipping remainder.
*** Marker: APP14 (xFFEE) ***
OFFSET: 0×00005F3F
length     = 14
*** Marker: DQT (xFFDB) ***
Define a Quantization Table.
OFFSET: 0×00005F4F
Table length = 132
—-
Precision=8 bits
Destination (Luminance)
DQT, Row #0:   1   1   1   1   1   1   1   2
DQT, Row #1:   1   1   1   1   1   1   1   2
DQT, Row #2:   1   1   1   1   1   1   2   2
DQT, Row #3:   1   1   1   1   1   2   2   3
DQT, Row #4:   1   1   1   1   2   2   3   3
DQT, Row #5:   1   1   1   2   2   3   3   3
DQT, Row #6:   1   1   2   2   3   3   3   3
DQT, Row #7:   2   2   2   3   3   3   3   3
Approx quality factor = 98.11 (scaling=3.79 variance=4.10)
—-
Precision=8 bits
Destination (Chrominance)
DQT, Row #0:   1   1   1   2   3   3   3   3
DQT, Row #1:   1   1   1   2   3   3   3   3
DQT, Row #2:   1   1   2   3   3   3   3   3
DQT, Row #3:   2   2   3   3   3   3   3   3
DQT, Row #4:   3   3   3   3   3   3   3   3
DQT, Row #5:   3   3   3   3   3   3   3   3
DQT, Row #6:   3   3   3   3   3   3   3   3
DQT, Row #7:   3   3   3   3   3   3   3   3
Approx quality factor = 98.36 (scaling=3.29 variance=0.42)
*** Marker: SOF0 (Baseline DCT) (xFFC0) ***
OFFSET: 0×00005FD5
Frame header length = 17
Precision = 8
Number of Lines = 1200
Samples per Line = 1600
Image Size = 1600 x 1200
Raw Image Orientation = Landscape
Number of Img components = 3
Component[1]:, Samp Fac=0×11 (Subsamp 1 x 1), Quant Tbl Sel=0×00 (Lum: Y)
Component[2]:, Samp Fac=0×11 (Subsamp 1 x 1), Quant Tbl Sel=0×01 (Chrom: Cb)
Component[3]:, Samp Fac=0×11 (Subsamp 1 x 1), Quant Tbl Sel=0×01 (Chrom: Cr)
*** Marker: DRI (Restart Interval) (xFFDD) ***
OFFSET: 0×00005FE8
length     = 4
interval   = 200
*** Marker: DHT (Define Huffman Table) (xFFC4) ***
OFFSET: 0×00005FEE
Huffman table length = 259
—-
Destination ID = 0
Class = 0 (DC / Lossless Table)
Codes of length 01 bits (000 total):
Codes of length 02 bits (002 total): 06 07
Codes of length 03 bits (002 total): 05 08
Codes of length 04 bits (003 total): 03 04 09
Codes of length 05 bits (001 total): 00
Codes of length 06 bits (001 total): 01
Codes of length 07 bits (001 total): 0A
Codes of length 08 bits (001 total): 02
Codes of length 09 bits (001 total): 0B
Codes of length 10 bits (000 total):
Codes of length 11 bits (000 total):
Codes of length 12 bits (000 total):
Codes of length 13 bits (000 total):
Codes of length 14 bits (000 total):
Codes of length 15 bits (000 total):
Codes of length 16 bits (000 total):
Total number of codes: 012
—-
Destination ID = 1
Class = 0 (DC / Lossless Table)
Codes of length 01 bits (000 total):
Codes of length 02 bits (002 total): 04 05
Codes of length 03 bits (002 total): 03 06
Codes of length 04 bits (003 total): 00 01 07
Codes of length 05 bits (001 total): 02
Codes of length 06 bits (001 total): 08
Codes of length 07 bits (001 total): 09
Codes of length 08 bits (000 total):
Codes of length 09 bits (000 total):
Codes of length 10 bits (000 total):
Codes of length 11 bits (000 total):
Codes of length 12 bits (000 total):
Codes of length 13 bits (000 total):
Codes of length 14 bits (000 total):
Codes of length 15 bits (000 total):
Codes of length 16 bits (000 total):
Total number of codes: 010
—-
Destination ID = 0
Class = 1 (AC Table)
Codes of length 01 bits (000 total):
Codes of length 02 bits (001 total): 03
Codes of length 03 bits (002 total): 04 05
Codes of length 04 bits (004 total): 00 01 02 06
Codes of length 05 bits (002 total): 11 13
Codes of length 06 bits (006 total): 21 31 41 23 14 07
Codes of length 07 bits (007 total): 51 61 71 12 33 24 15
Codes of length 08 bits (004 total): 81 91 34 08
Codes of length 09 bits (006 total): F0 A1 B1 C1 43 44
Codes of length 10 bits (007 total): D1 E1 22 53 54 25 16
Codes of length 11 bits (003 total): F1 63 64
Codes of length 12 bits (009 total): 32 73 74 84 35 45 55 17 09
Codes of length 13 bits (005 total): 42 94 A4 65 75
Codes of length 14 bits (002 total): 52 83
Codes of length 15 bits (000 total):
Codes of length 16 bits (031 total): B4 C4 26 62 93 D4 85 95 18 72 E4 82 92 A2 F4 A5
B5 B2 A3 B3 F3 C5 36 46 27 0A C3 E3 D5 56 66
Total number of codes: 089
—-
Destination ID = 1
Class = 1 (AC Table)
Codes of length 01 bits (000 total):
Codes of length 02 bits (000 total):
Codes of length 03 bits (005 total): 00 01 02 03 04
Codes of length 04 bits (001 total): 05
Codes of length 05 bits (005 total): F0 11 21 31 13
Codes of length 06 bits (004 total): 41 12 14 06
Codes of length 07 bits (004 total): 51 61 C1 22
Codes of length 08 bits (013 total): 71 81 91 A1 B1 D1 E1 F1 32 42 23 24 15
Codes of length 09 bits (001 total): 33
Codes of length 10 bits (005 total): 52 34 64 25 07
Codes of length 11 bits (004 total): 43 A4 35 16
Codes of length 12 bits (007 total): 44 54 74 84 94 B4 C4
Codes of length 13 bits (005 total): A2 B2 C2 53 D4
Codes of length 14 bits (005 total): 62 63 C3 E4 45
Codes of length 15 bits (000 total):
Codes of length 16 bits (019 total): 72 82 92 D2 E2 F4 17 83 A3 55 73 B3 26 08 F2 65
E3 A5 B5
Total number of codes: 078
*** Marker: SOS (Start of Scan) (xFFDA) ***
OFFSET: 0×000060F3
Scan header length = 12
Number of img components = 3
Component[1]: selector=0×01, table=0×00
Component[2]: selector=0×02, table=0×11
Component[3]: selector=0×03, table=0×11
Spectral selection = 0 .. 63
Successive approximation = 0×00
*** Decoding SCAN Data ***
OFFSET: 0×00006101
Scan Decode Mode: No IDCT (DC only)
NOTE: Low-resolution DC component shown. Can decode full-res with [Options->Scan Segment->Full IDCT]
Scan Data encountered marker   0xFFD9 @ 0×000EE6BD.0
Compression stats:
Compression Ratio: 1249.46:1
Bits per pixel:     0.02:1
Huffman code histogram stats:
Huffman Table: (Dest ID: 0, Class: DC)
# codes of length 01 bits:        0 (  0%)
# codes of length 02 bits:    13826 ( 46%)
# codes of length 03 bits:     9422 ( 31%)
# codes of length 04 bits:     5432 ( 18%)
# codes of length 05 bits:      781 (  3%)
# codes of length 06 bits:      248 (  1%)
# codes of length 07 bits:      183 (  1%)
# codes of length 08 bits:      101 (  0%)
# codes of length 09 bits:        7 (  0%)
# codes of length 10 bits:        0 (  0%)
# codes of length 11 bits:        0 (  0%)
# codes of length 12 bits:        0 (  0%)
# codes of length 13 bits:        0 (  0%)
# codes of length 14 bits:        0 (  0%)
# codes of length 15 bits:        0 (  0%)
# codes of length 16 bits:        0 (  0%)
Huffman Table: (Dest ID: 1, Class: DC)
# codes of length 01 bits:        0 (  0%)
# codes of length 02 bits:    30871 ( 51%)
# codes of length 03 bits:    15676 ( 26%)
# codes of length 04 bits:    10678 ( 18%)
# codes of length 05 bits:     2396 (  4%)
# codes of length 06 bits:      330 (  1%)
# codes of length 07 bits:       49 (  0%)
# codes of length 08 bits:        0 (  0%)
# codes of length 09 bits:        0 (  0%)
# codes of length 10 bits:        0 (  0%)
# codes of length 11 bits:        0 (  0%)
# codes of length 12 bits:        0 (  0%)
# codes of length 13 bits:        0 (  0%)
# codes of length 14 bits:        0 (  0%)
# codes of length 15 bits:        0 (  0%)
# codes of length 16 bits:        0 (  0%)
Huffman Table: (Dest ID: 0, Class: AC)
# codes of length 01 bits:        0 (  0%)
# codes of length 02 bits:   103509 ( 19%)
# codes of length 03 bits:   144164 ( 27%)
# codes of length 04 bits:   135646 ( 25%)
# codes of length 05 bits:    42463 (  8%)
# codes of length 06 bits:    58812 ( 11%)
# codes of length 07 bits:    26932 (  5%)
# codes of length 08 bits:     8997 (  2%)
# codes of length 09 bits:     7894 (  1%)
# codes of length 10 bits:     4692 (  1%)
# codes of length 11 bits:     1005 (  0%)
# codes of length 12 bits:     1372 (  0%)
# codes of length 13 bits:      360 (  0%)
# codes of length 14 bits:       79 (  0%)
# codes of length 15 bits:        0 (  0%)
# codes of length 16 bits:      305 (  0%)
Huffman Table: (Dest ID: 1, Class: AC)
# codes of length 01 bits:        0 (  0%)
# codes of length 02 bits:        0 (  0%)
# codes of length 03 bits:   323561 ( 64%)
# codes of length 04 bits:    35940 (  7%)
# codes of length 05 bits:    72091 ( 14%)
# codes of length 06 bits:    28828 (  6%)
# codes of length 07 bits:    14708 (  3%)
# codes of length 08 bits:    23173 (  5%)
# codes of length 09 bits:      822 (  0%)
# codes of length 10 bits:     2183 (  0%)
# codes of length 11 bits:     1010 (  0%)
# codes of length 12 bits:      798 (  0%)
# codes of length 13 bits:      250 (  0%)
# codes of length 14 bits:      132 (  0%)
# codes of length 15 bits:        0 (  0%)
# codes of length 16 bits:      144 (  0%)
YCC clipping in DC:
Y  component: [<0=    0] [>255=    0]
Cb component: [<0=    0] [>255=    0]
Cr component: [<0=    0] [>255=    0]
RGB clipping in DC:
R  component: [<0=    0] [>255=    0]
G  component: [<0=    0] [>255=    0]
B  component: [<0=    0] [>255=    0]
Brightest Pixel Search:
YCC=[ 1016,    0,    0] RGB=[255,255,255] @ MCU[123, 88]
Finished Decoding SCAN Data
Number of RESTART markers decoded: 149
Next position in scan buffer: Offset 0×000EE6BC.6
*** Marker: EOI (End of Image) (xFFD9) ***
OFFSET: 0×000EE6BD
*** Embedded JPEG Thumbnail ***
Offset: 0×000002B0
Length: 0×00001C1C (7196)
* Embedded Thumb Marker: SOI
* Embedded Thumb Marker: APP0
Length = 16
* Embedded Thumb Marker: APP13
Length = 12
* Embedded Thumb Marker: APP14
Length = 14
* Embedded Thumb Marker: DQT
Length = 132
—-
Precision=0 bits
Destination (Luminance)
DQT, Row #0:  12   8   8  12  17  21  24  17
DQT, Row #1:   8   9   9  11  15  19  12  12
DQT, Row #2:   8   9  10  12  19  12  12  12
DQT, Row #3:  12  11  12  21  12  12  12  12
DQT, Row #4:  17  15  19  12  12  12  12  12
DQT, Row #5:  21  19  12  12  12  12  12  12
DQT, Row #6:  24  12  12  12  12  12  12  12
DQT, Row #7:  17  12  12  12  12  12  12  12
—-
Precision=0 bits
Destination (Chrominance)
DQT, Row #0:  13  11  13  16  20  20  17  17
DQT, Row #1:  11  14  14  14  14  12  12  12
DQT, Row #2:  13  14  14  14  12  12  12  12
DQT, Row #3:  16  14  14  12  12  12  12  12
DQT, Row #4:  20  14  12  12  12  12  12  12
DQT, Row #5:  20  12  12  12  12  12  12  12
DQT, Row #6:  17  12  12  12  12  12  12  12
DQT, Row #7:  17  12  12  12  12  12  12  12
* Embedded Thumb Marker: SOF
Frame header length = 17
Precision = 8
Number of Lines = 120
Samples per Line = 160
Image Size = 160 x 120
* Embedded Thumb Marker: DRI
Length = 4
* Embedded Thumb Marker: DHT
Length = 319
* Embedded Thumb Marker: SOS
Skipping scan data
Skipped 6655 bytes
* Embedded Thumb Marker: EOI
* Embedded Thumb Signature: 01C2DDA29A1B5DCCD5E217CF9C558A62
*** Searching Compression Signatures ***
Signature:           01DADDC4908E9BA57CC067EEAD54E67D
Signature (Rotated): 01DADDC4908E9BA57CC067EEAD54E67D
File Offset:         0 bytes
Chroma subsampling:  1×1
EXIF Make/Model:     OK   [Nokia] [N72]
EXIF Makernotes:     NONE
EXIF Software:       OK   [Adobe Photoshop CS3 Windows]
Searching Compression Signatures: (3327 built-in, 0 user(*) )
EXIF.Make / Software        EXIF.Model                            Quality           Subsamp Match?
————————-   ———————————–   —————-  ————–
SW :[Adobe Photoshop          ]                                       [Save As 12      ]
NOTE: Photoshop IRB detected
NOTE: EXIF Software field recognized as from editor
Based on the analysis of compression characteristics and EXIF metadata:
ASSESSMENT: Class 1 – Image is processed / edited.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

I want to become a Sikkim Historian



War objects found at Tumlong Palace ruins

I never wanted to be a teacher and at the same time I never had any options. I had always been interested in history since my school days but destiny had other career for me. I compromised my dream on becoming an archeologist when I completed my high schools and opted for Pure Science streams. In my early schooling days we were taught to plant dreams, I dreamt of becoming an archeologist. Tutankhamen, Stonehenge, El Dorado, Atlantis, Crop Circles, Incas, Mayas, ancient civilizations and many others were the only things I used to fantasize. I used to regularly visit forest areas at my hometown and search for things believing that I was an archeologist and I was destined to discover it. My biggest irony of life one day I found a real plant fossil, it was a petrified fossil with an impression of a Gramineae leaf. Since 2003 I am trying to get more information of it but without any success.
I completed my Pure Science studies, thereafter I opted for Botany Honours at Sikkim Government College in Tadong, Gangtok. After my dreams of archeologist was scattered I was not able to set up goal for my life. I completed my Botany Honours never knowing what next! After that I was to follow which I had never ever given thought. I would say lady luck smiled at me. I joined Weekend Review Newspaper at Gangtok and since than there has been no looking back. Through Weekend Review newspaper I was unfolding my fantasy about learning Sikkim. The year than was 2003.
The seed of archeologist was there with me but one incident changed my outlook towards my thoughts. It was in then Calcutta, my first visit to the metros I was surprised to find that most of the people out there never knew about Sikkim. Some thought it to be in Nepal, some in China and few other made my home state stand somewhere in Bhutan. Till then I never knew what Sikkim was all about. Since that incident I had been trying to study Sikkim, trying to understand what is Sikkim all about? I want to know more and more about my Sikkim, every step that played an important role in the making of Sikkim.
From archeologist to self made Sikkim historian….I had changed my object of my life but one thing that has remained untouched is my sincere approach towards my goal. Blogging is just a platform to make people like me understand Sikkim. What I write in this weekly column and in my blog “Proud to be a Sikkimese’ (http://sikhim.blogspot.com) is not a mere hobby of getting popular as I am said by my few friends who does not like me writing about Sikkim History. I had been told I am writing nonsense and above all they believe digging the past only stinks. I am sorry for them, but I am not stopping my hunger to know about Sikkim. For each articles I go through pages of numerous old ragged pages of ‘fat books’ and other resources. I know my responsibilities but my only greed lies in the fact that though my articles I wish my younger generation gets to learn more about our Sikkim history which is not found anywhere else.