A massive cybercrime racket and an illegal call center have been unearthed in Niamatpur Harijan Para and adjacent areas under Kulti police station in Asansol. A sudden raid by the police created a stir in the entire area. From the morning of September 7, officials from the Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate and the Cyber Crime Police Station jointly launched this search operation. A large police force, including the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Combat Force, was deployed in the area to handle the situation.
The police identified the main centers of these illegal activities that had been running for a long time. In the evening, ACP (Cyber) Rahul Pandey of Asansol-Durgapur Police stated in a press briefing that the raid was still ongoing and multiple police teams were participating in the operation. A total of 12 accused have been arrested in connection with this incident so far. Rs 3 lakh in cash and a large amount of electronic equipment were seized from the arrested individuals. The recovered items include multiple laptops, computers, routers, Android phones, iPhones, credit cards, keyboards, bank passbooks, and a large number of SIM cards.
According to local sources, police raided several specific houses in Harijan Para in the morning. In some cases, searches were conducted by breaking open the locks of closed houses. While examining the security of the area, the police noticed that CCTV cameras were installed in almost every house in that neighborhood. It is suspected that this arrangement was made so that the criminals could monitor police movements. Surveillance to curb cybercrime has also been increased by the police at various points, including Muchipara under Niamatpur outpost.
ACP (Cyber) Rahul Pandey further informed that the operation was launched after identifying the area based on specific information received from the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal or the National Cyber Crime Bureau. The installation of so many CCTV cameras in this specific area alone is being investigated with utmost seriousness. Preliminary investigations revealed that the ordinary members of the houses from where computers or laptops were recovered have no idea about these technical matters or operating computers. It is believed that a larger syndicate is working behind this. Investigators are probing whether this cybercrime gang has any direct link to the infamous 'Jamtara Gang'. The police are searching for the key kingpins of the racket by taking the arrested individuals into custody for interrogation.
A political feud has also erupted surrounding this incident. Keshav Poddar, General Secretary of Asansol District BJP, spoke out on the matter. He launched a fierce attack targeting the state government and the ruling party. Demanding the implementation of a zero-tolerance policy in the state, he stated that criminals would not be spared under any circumstances. Warning that law and order should be maintained on the lines of Uttar Pradesh, he said that no one involved in cybercrime or land scams would be spared. Following this major success of the police administration, the police are now trying to find out how deep the roots of cybercrime extend in the Kulti and Niamatpur areas.
