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Ranchi, Feb 20 (IANS) In a major drive against cybercrime, Jharkhand Police arrested 57 accused during a special operation across the North Chotanagpur region, officials said on Friday.

The action was carried out on the instructions of Inspector General Sunil Bhaskar, with coordinated raids conducted in multiple districts.

The operation focused on suspicious mobile numbers identified through the police’s “Pratibimba” app, which provides technical assistance in tracking and verifying numbers linked to cyber fraud activities.

Police said that between October 1, 2025, and February 16, 2026, a total of 15 cybercrime cases were registered following verification and investigation of flagged mobile numbers.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused were involved in making fraudulent phone calls posing as officials, banking and ATM-related fraud, OTP-based scams, and online transaction fraud.

Officials said several of those arrested were part of an organised cyber fraud network operating across different districts in the region.

During the raids, police recovered electronic gadgets, banking instruments and incriminating documents. The seized items include 132 mobile phones, 168 SIM cards, 31 ATM cards, 7 bank passbooks, 3 bank cheque books, 23 registers and notebooks containing transaction records, and WhatsApp chat data used for coordinating fraud activities.

Police also recovered Rs 4.67 lakh in cash during the operation.

Investigators found that some of the accused were operating bank accounts and SIM cards using forged documents or identity papers belonging to others.

Among the recovered identity documents were 3 Aadhaar cards, 8 PAN cards, 1 labour card, 1 voter ID card, and 1 driving license.

Three four-wheelers and seven two-wheelers used by the network were also seized.

Officials said the “Pratibimba” app played a crucial role in identifying and verifying suspicious numbers, enabling police to act swiftly and arrest a large number of accused within a short period.

The Inspector General said the campaign to curb cybercrime in the region will continue with intensified monitoring and further operations.

Police have urged citizens not to share OTPs, banking details, or click on suspicious links, and to immediately report any cyber fraud to the nearest police station or the cybercrime helpline.

–IANS

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Jamnagar, Sep 15 (IANS) In a vibrant celebration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) is set to organise 75 marathons under the ‘NaMo Yuva Run’ across the country, with a special focus on the twin themes of De-Addiction and Fit India. One of these high-energy events will be held in Jamnagar on September 21, starting at 5:00 A.M., beginning from the iconic Lal Bungalow Circle.

The initiative is part of a broader campaign named ‘Seva Saptah’, observed annually by the BJP to celebrate the Prime Minister’s birthday on September 17.

The celebration has expanded into a full-fledged ‘Sewa Pakhwada’, running from September 17 to October 2, the birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri.

The campaign includes a series of welfare activities such as cleanliness drives, health check-up camps, blood donation events, and public awareness initiatives.

The marathon in Jamnagar is among the ten flagship events being held across key cities in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, including Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Surat, Gandhinagar, Valsad, Anand, and Junagadh. Each marathon is expected to draw more than 10,000 participants, reflecting a massive show of public enthusiasm and civic pride.

Jamnagar’s pride in hosting the event is palpable. Speaking to IANS, BJP leader Bina Ben Kothari said, “We are proud to organise one of the 75 marathons in honour of our beloved Prime Minister. It’s not just a celebration, it’s a message — for fitness, health, and a drug-free India.”

The marathon route will begin from Lal Bungalow and pass through Gurudwara Chowkdi, Dandiya Hanuman, Walkeshwari, Sharu Section Road, Saat Rasta, and loop back to Lal Bungalow — providing scenic and symbolic landmarks of the city as the backdrop for this energetic event.

Former Indian cricketer Parthiv Patel has been appointed as the state-level brand ambassador for the Gujarat leg of the marathon. In Jamnagar, local pride is doubled with the announcement of two prominent young athletes as city ambassadors: Jay Rawalia, captain of the Under-19 cricket team, and Jill Makwana, a Commonwealth Games gold medalist.

“I am honoured to be a part of this noble cause,” said Rawalia.

“Through this marathon, we hope to inspire the youth to embrace fitness and say ‘no’ to addiction. Let’s run not just for ourselves, but for a healthier India.”

All registered participants will receive official marathon T-shirts, and the BJYM has issued a public appeal urging citizens, youth groups, social organisations, and even military personnel to join the run and show their support.

Born on September 17, 1950, in Vadnagar, a small town in Gujarat’s Mehsana district, PM Modi is the third of six children of Damodardas Modi and Hiraba Modi.

The BJP will organise events across the country during the ‘Sewa Pakhwada’.

Under this initiative, activities such as blood donation camps, health check-up camps, cleanliness drives, environmental protection campaigns, exhibitions, dialogue programmes, distribution of assistive devices to persons with disabilities, ‘Modi Vikas Marathon’, sports festivals, and drawing competitions will be held.

–IANS

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Thiruvananthapuram, July 16 (IANS) An audacious impersonation and financial fraud attempt targeting Congress legislators in Kerala has triggered cyber investigations after fraudsters, posing as officials from Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi’s office, allegedly promised ministerial berths and other high-ranking positions in exchange for crores of rupees. The incident prompted D.S. Rajkumar, Private Secretary to Priyanka Gandhi, to lodge a formal complaint with the Kerala Police.

The scam first came to light after Elathur MLA Vidya Balakrishnan received a WhatsApp call from a person claiming to be from Priyanka Gandhi’s office in New Delhi.

The caller claimed that a Cabinet reshuffle in Kerala was imminent and demanded Rs 3 crore to secure her a berth in the ministry. The fraudster also claimed to be calling from Delhi.

Investigations have since revealed that the same phone number was used to contact Vadakara MP Shafi Parambil and Idukki MP Dean Kuriakose.

The seriousness of the incident prompted D.S. Rajkumar, Private Secretary to Priyanka Gandhi, to lodge a formal complaint with the Kerala Director General of Police and the Wayanad Superintendent of Police.

Based on the complaint, Kalpetta Cyber Police registered a case of impersonation, while the Kozhikode Cyber Cell launched a parallel investigation following Vidya Balakrishnan’s complaint.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the calls originated from Delhi.

Police suspect the fraudsters used sophisticated caller spoofing technology and mule accounts to conceal their identities, leading investigators to believe that the phone number displayed may not belong to the actual caller.

Cyber investigators are now working to trace those behind the operation.

Vidya Balakrishnan confirmed that she had received the WhatsApp call and said she approached the police on the directions of the Congress leadership.

She declined to disclose further details, stating that revealing information while the investigation is underway could hamper efforts to identify the culprits.

The bizarre claim of an imminent Cabinet reshuffle also drew a light-hearted response from Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan.

When asked about the purported offer of ministerial berths, Satheesan laughed off the suggestion, remarking, “A Cabinet reshuffle and that, too, without me knowing?” before brushing aside the claim as absurd.

The incident has once again highlighted the growing sophistication of cyber-enabled impersonation scams, with investigators warning that fraudsters are increasingly exploiting the names of prominent political leaders and institutions to lend credibility to elaborate financial frauds.

Police are examining digital evidence from the calls and are expected to seek assistance from agencies outside the state as the investigation progresses.

Speaking to the media in Delhi, Kalpetta (Wayanad district) Congress MLA and State Agriculture Minister T. Siddiqque said the issue cannot be brushed aside as a prank and it will be seriously probed.

–IANS

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