Assam Police Arrest 330 in Statewide Crackdown on Fraudsters and Cyber Criminals
Assam Police arrested around 330 people in a special anti-fraud operation launched early Saturday, targeting cyber criminals and those impersonating police officials.
In a coordinated special operation that began in the early hours of Saturday, Assam Police have arrested approximately 330 individuals accused of engaging in a wide range of fraudulent activities, including impersonating police officers and running cyber scams. Director General of Police Harmeet Singh confirmed that the crackdown is still active and the number of arrests is expected to climb as the operation progresses.
Speaking at a press conference in Guwahati, the DGP detailed the modus operandi of those detained. Many of the accused allegedly loitered near police stations, targeting citizens who came to file complaints. These fraudsters would offer to expedite the process or resolve matters without hassle in exchange for money. Others are accused of threatening people over the phone to extort cash, while some were found to be dealing in stolen goods.
A significant portion of the arrests were concentrated in the Cachar district. According to Mr. Singh, apprehensions were made across almost all regions of the state, with only a few districts like Sadiya and Majuli reporting no arrests in this specific drive.
The operation was launched following directives from the Chief Minister, who also holds the Home portfolio. These instructions are believed to have emerged from a recent two-day conference of senior police officials.
Highlighting the technical nature of these crimes, the DGP noted that many suspects relied on the "cyber medium" to commit fraud. Police are currently tracing the digital footprints left by the accused. Mr. Singh pointed out that ground verification is crucial after technical analysis, as fraudsters often use phone numbers registered under different names to avoid detection.
"Our aim is to ensure that the general public is not harassed by such frauds," the DGP stated, adding that investigations into all cases are ongoing and legal procedures will be followed. He also mentioned that some suspects have been traced to locations outside Assam, including major cities like Hyderabad and Bengaluru, and they will be brought under the police net soon.