Bihar: Jaukatiya Emerges as Cyber Fraud Hub, Echoes of Jamtara’s Notorious Reputation

Bettiah: West Champaran district is once again in the spotlight, this time with the revelation of a cyber fraud case in Jaukatiya, Majholia block. Several individuals from the village are allegedly involved in cyber fraud, and the police are currently on a search mission to apprehend them.

Over the past two years, 46 people from the village have been named in an FIR related to cyber fraud, with only a few arrests made, while others remain at large. Shahryaz, who was incarcerated for cyber fraud six months ago, has not been heard from since his release.

The village has been linked to more than two dozen cases involving cyber fraud, hawala transactions, and terror funding. In May 2019, Majholia police dismantled a significant cyber fraud racket, apprehending five individuals with 26 debit cards from various banks, 10 mobile sets, and Rs 1.25 lakh in cash. The gang’s mastermind, Shahir alias Sahira, revealed a hawala business worth Rs 1.23 crore within a month of interrogation. Five individuals were sent to judicial custody for cheating bank customers through cyber fraud.

Another major operation occurred on May 29, 2022, when the police raided four cyber criminals traveling in a Scorpio in Amwa Mazhar. Two were arrested, and two remain fugitive, with the seizure of laptops, 20 debit cards, and seven mobile phones. Raids are conducted based on received intelligence.

Abhay Kumar, the Head of Majholia Police Station and Police Inspector, stated that Jaukatiya village is infamous for cyber fraud, and previous FIR suspects are currently evading arrest.

In response to the investigation, State Bank Majholia’s Branch Manager, Manager Prasad, reported that more than two dozen accounts from Jaukatia village, the bank’s feeder area, have been implicated in cyber fraud cases. On November 9, UP Police visited to investigate several accounts.