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Two Nigerian nationals held for duping Kashmir resident of ₹36.35L in cyber fraud
The accused, natives of Delta Agbor, Nigeria, were arrested from Vashisht Park in Sagarpur, New Delhi; had duped the victim, a resident of Baramulla, Kashmir, on pretext on business investment
Police on Wednesday arrested two Nigerian nationals from New Delhi for their alleged involvement in an online fraud wherein a resident of northern Kashmir’s Baramulla lost ₹36.35 lakh.
The accused, Isioma Steven and Collins of Delta Agbor, Nigeria, were arrested from Vashisht Park in Sagarpur, New Delhi. Police rerecovered 14 mobile phones of different make and models, a laptop, 14 sim cards, a wi-fi router, a dongle. Police said six more arrests are expected in the case.
The complainant had alleged that he came in contact with a Facebook user under the name T Jessica, who claimed to be a purchase manager at the pharmaceutical company Abbott.
The Facebooked user convinced the complainant to start a business of kandu nuts or palm seeds by showing fake offers, orders and promising high returns. The complainant then came in contact with a person posing as Jyoti T Kandu, a businessperson who assured him that the product was of high quality and was valued in the pharmaceutical market owing to its medicinal benefits.
“The complainant without knowing the plot behind the fraud invested a hefty amount of ₹36.35 lakh by transferring the said amount in different bank accounts of fraudsters for purchasing 50 packets of kandu nuts,” a police spokesperson said.
Police added that on receiving the consignment of 50 packets of kandu nuts, the complainant received another call claiming to be from the Mumbai customs office, wherein he was asked to deposit more money in order to be able to sell the said nuts to pharmaceutical companies.
“The same created doubt in the mind of the complainant, who then tried to contact the provided details in order to verify the facts, however he did not get any response and felt duped by the Facebook user,” the spokesman further said.
The complainant then approached cybercrime police station, Srinagar. A case was then registered.
Detailing the investigation, police said “During the course of investigation, it was found that the fraud had been done by the fraudsters under a highly technically-built set-up and accordingly, the digital footprints were tracked by analysis of bank accounts that have been used for syphoning money of the complainant.”
“Besides, CCTV footage and analysis of suspect phone numbers by employing high-end technical investigative skills was also carried out,” the spokesperson added.
Solider sustains injuries in crossfire with militants at Kulgam
A soldier sustained injuries during an operation at Kathpora village in southern Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Wednesday. Police said that on specific information about the presence of militants at Kathpora village, a team comprising police and army personnel launched a joint operation late last night.
In the wee hours, contact was established between militants and the joint team. In the initial gunfight, a soldier sustained injuries. Officials said there was a possibility that the militants escaped during the operation. Search operations are still underway and have been extended to the neighbouring villages. With the name of the injured soldier was not disclosed, officials said he has been shifted to the base hospital in Srinagar.
62-year-old dies in car-bus collision in Poonch; wife, daugther injured
A 62-year-old lost his life, while his wife and their daughter sustained serious injuries, after his car collided with a bus at Sanai in Poonch district on Wednesday, said officials. The bus driver fled the spot after the accident.
Giving out details on the accident, police said, “A car and a bus collided with each other at Sanai in Surankote on Wednesday. In the collision 62-year-old Bikram Singh, son of Thakur Singh of Haveli Poonch was killed, while his wife Jasbir Kour and daughter Baljit Kour suffered serious injuries,” said a police officer.
Inspector Rajveer Singh, Surankote station head officer, said the bus driver has been identified as Parvez Ahmed and was a resident of Surankote. “We have launched a manhunt to nab him. The owner of the bus was also called at the police station,” he added.
