Assam STF Smashes Multi-Crore Fraud Ring; Pakistan Intelligence Links Suspected
Assam STF arrests six in a multi-crore financial fraud case involving mule accounts and suspected links to Pakistan Intelligence Operatives.
In a major blow to organized financial crime, the Special Task Force (STF) of the Assam Police has dismantled a multi-crore Assam financial fraud syndicate. The operation has led to the arrest of six individuals who allegedly utilized "mule accounts" to funnel massive sums of money, with investigators now probing chilling connections to Pakistan Intelligence Operatives (PIOs).
The Intelligence Trail
The crackdown was not a random occurrence but the result of precise, actionable intelligence provided by central agencies. Key inputs came from Military Intelligence (MI), Gajraj, based in Tezpur, which alerted authorities about an interstate syndicate orchestrating fraudulent operations through compromised bank accounts.
The legal process began when the Sonitpur Police lodged a formal complaint at the STF Police Station, triggering a deep-dive investigation into the network's financial footprints.
The 'Mule Account' Modus Operandi
According to Rajib Saikia, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Assam Police, the investigation first flagged a State Bank of India (SBI) account belonging to Marjina Begum, a resident of Ganesh Nagar in Guwahati. The account exhibited a textbook pattern of financial laundering.
Between June 22 and August 5, 2026, the account received credits amounting to lakhs of rupees within a narrow 47-day window. In a classic "mule account" maneuver, the funds were withdrawn almost immediately after every deposit to avoid detection and break the money trail.
As the STF dug deeper, they discovered that Mofijul Haque (22) and Himangshu Das (19), both from Bamunimaidam in Guwahati, were instrumental in facilitating these suspicious dealings. Most alarmingly, preliminary findings suggested that these operations were linked to a Pakistan Intelligence Operative (PIO).
The Wave of Arrests
The STF executed a series of targeted raids to dismantle the cell:
- October 28: The first wave of arrests saw Marjina Begum, Mofijul Haque, and Himangshu Das taken into custody. Mobile devices and incriminating documents were seized during this raid.
- October 29: Following custodial interrogations, the STF tracked down and arrested Rakib Hussain (34) from Ganesh Nagar.
- October 30: With the assistance of the Guwahati City Police, two more suspects—Iftar Hussain (25) from Uzanbazar and Arman Azuz Hoque (20) from Noonmati—were apprehended.
Scale of the Operation
The scale of the fraud is staggering. Police reveal that the syndicate has been operating across several states for nearly two years, successfully siphoning off several crores of rupees from unsuspecting victims.
During the raids, law enforcement recovered a hoard of digital and physical evidence, including:
- Laptops and mobile phones
- Electronic gadgets
- Bank passbooks and ATM cards
- Various incriminating documents
The Hunt for the Mastermind
While six people are behind bars, the battle is far from over. Investigators believe the mastermind behind this sophisticated network is coordinating the entire operation from outside the borders of Assam.
The STF is currently focused on tracking down absconding members, identifying further mule accounts, and mapping the exact flow of illicit funds. The primary goal remains to uncover the full extent of the syndicate's ties to Pakistan-based intelligence operatives and other anti-national elements.