MANKACHAR: In a significant crackdown on organised crime, Assam Police unearthed a sophisticated PAN card forgery network during a raid in Thakuranbari village, South Salmara Mankachar district, on February 27. The operation, led by senior officers, exposed a syndicate accused of distributing counterfeit identity documents across India and facilitating fraudulent financial activities linked to cross-border intruders.
Acting on intelligence, a team comprising ASP HQ, Mankachar Police Station OC, and SI(P) Sonudev Barman raided the residence of Zamir Hussain, son of Abdul Baten. Authorities seized 20 fake PAN cards in sealed covers, 250 partially processed PAN application forms, and forged voter ID cards. Investigators also discovered counterfeit Annexure-A certificates bearing a fake seal of the In-charge Superintendent & Secretary of JK Arabic College, Jordanga—a critical clue pointing to the racket’s operational scale.
The bust follows a surge in cases across Assam where mostly Muslim cyber criminals, often using fake identities, secured illicit loans from banks and financial institutions. Police sources highlighted concerns over Bangladeshi nationals infiltrating Northeast India—including Tripura, Meghalaya, and Assam—with forged Aadhaar and PAN cards, enabling illegal residency and financial fraud.
“This racket is a nexus of identity theft, financial crime, and cross-border infiltration,” said a senior police official, requesting anonymity. “The seized materials suggest links to interstate and possibly international operators.” Authorities confirmed Zamir Hussain’s arrest and hinted at further interrogations to dismantle the network.
Forensic teams are scrutinizing the fake certificates and voter IDs to trace their origins. The forged JK Arabic College seal raises suspicions about collusion within educational or administrative institutions. Police also suspect the PAN cards were sold to undocumented immigrants and cyber criminals for banking fraud, money laundering, or evading law enforcement.
National Security Implications
The raid underscores growing challenges in curbing document forgery amid rising illegal immigration in Northeast India. Over 50 Bangladeshi nationals were arrested in 2023 alone across the region for possessing fake Indian IDs, stoking concerns about national security and demographic shifts.
Authorities have launched a statewide audit of PAN card applications linked to suspicious addresses. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) may join the probe if interstate connections are confirmed. “We urge financial institutions to tighten identity verification protocols,” the police added.
“This is the tip of the iceberg. Such networks threaten both economic security and social stability,” said a state cybersecurity official. “Collaboration between states and central agencies is critical to end this menace.”
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