Kendujhar: In a substantial achievement in combating inter-state cybercrime and highway theft, authorities in Odisha’s Kendujhar district have apprehended a notorious gang, detaining six individuals, among whom is a woman regarded as a pivotal mastermind connected to the notorious Jamtara cyber fraud network in Jharkhand.
The individuals taken into custody have been named as Haladhar Nayak, Rounak Patra, Manas Tanti, Arbaaz Khan, and Chandrabati Patra from Thakurani, along with Suraj Pal Choudhury from Bhanj Colony.
As detailed by Debendranath Pingua, the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Barbil, the investigation was sparked by a severe highway robbery incident that occurred on June 4. A group of armed criminals attacked a truck driver near Royda Chhak, assaulting him and making off with his mobile device and cash. This robbery quickly escalated into a case of financial fraud. Using the stolen smartphone, the perpetrators accessed digital payment platforms such as PhonePe and Google Pay, illegally transferring Rs 1,86,500 from the driver’s bank account.
A formal complaint was lodged at Barbil Police Station on July 6, which initiated a thorough investigation.
Authorities discovered that a gang of approximately 9-10 members was predominantly operating in the Barbil and Joda regions of the mining area. Their method involved targeting long-haul truck drivers, robbing them of their belongings in secluded locations, and subsequently selling the stolen phones to Chandrabati Patra for around Rs 5,000-6,000 each.
Patra has been characterized by police as adept in digital financial crimes and is alleged to have been a vital link to the Jamtara syndicate. Together with her accomplices, she exploited the stolen devices to circumvent security measures and empty victims’ accounts, reportedly earning a commission of 20-30% on the illicit transactions.
The SDPO confirmed the gang’s dual criminal activities and their connection to the Jamtara operation, noting that stolen phones were consistently routed to Patra for cyber exploitation. “The gang utilized the stolen phones to access UPI and banking applications to extract funds from victims’ accounts,” he stated.
During raids conducted at Patra’s home and other related locations, law enforcement recovered significant evidence, including 12 mobile phones, 26 bank passbooks, and 28 active SIM cards. An ongoing investigation aims to trace additional financial links, identify more victims, and capture the remaining members of the gang.
