Assam STF Busts Financial Fraud Network; Suspected Pakistan Intelligence Links Under Scanner

Guwahati: In a significant operation targeting the shadow economy of digital financial fraud, the Assam Police’s Special Task Force (STF) has dismantled a major syndicate operating through a chain of “mule” bank accounts. The crackdown, which spanned multiple states, has resulted in the arrest of six individuals, with investigators now probing the chilling possibility that these financial networks are being utilized by Pakistan-based intelligence operatives.

The operation, overseen by Inspector General of Police (IGP-STF) Partha Sarathi Mahanta, was launched following credible intelligence reports received by the state police. These reports suggested that a sophisticated cross-border financial syndicate was leveraging local bank accounts to facilitate illicit transactions, prompting the STF to register a formal case and initiate a wide-ranging investigation.

A Multi-State Tactical Sweep

The STF executed a highly coordinated three-day tactical operation to apprehend the key suspects. The sweep began in Guwahati and extended as far as Karnataka, demonstrating the network’s reach.

On October 28, the STF made its first set of arrests in Guwahati. Three individuals—identified as Marjina Begum, Rafizul Haque, and Hemang Sudha—were taken into custody from separate locations within the jurisdiction of the Chandmari Police Station.

The investigation gathered significant momentum the following day, October 29, when the STF successfully tracked and apprehended a prime suspect, Rakib Hussain, in Karnataka. This interstate breakthrough provided investigators with vital leads, allowing them to close in on the remaining members of the module. On October 30, the final two suspects, Iftar Hussain from Uzan Bazar and Arman Aziz Haque from Noonmati, were arrested in Guwahati.

Intelligence Agencies Alerted Over Cross-Border Links

Addressing the media during a press conference in Guwahati, STF Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pranab Kumar Pegu confirmed that the nature of the financial activity has drawn the attention of national security agencies.

“We are currently examining potential connections between these fraudulent financial transactions and Pakistan-based intelligence operatives,” SSP Pegu stated. While the investigation is in a sensitive, evolving stage, he noted that interrogation of the suspects has yielded critical information regarding the modus operandi of the syndicate.

The use of “mule” accounts—bank accounts opened by unsuspecting or coerced individuals to move illicit funds—has become a preferred tool for criminal organizations seeking to obscure the source and destination of funds. By utilizing these accounts, the syndicate aimed to shield the real beneficiaries of the transactions from scrutiny.

Though the STF has refrained from disclosing specific details regarding the volume of money moved or the exact nature of the international transactions, citing the ongoing, high-stakes nature of the probe, sources suggest that the arrests represent a significant blow to the local infrastructure supporting foreign-funded subversive activities.

As the interrogation of the six arrested individuals continues, the STF is expected to uncover further links and potentially expand the scope of the operation to prevent future instances of such financial subversion.

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