Srinagar: Srinagar Police on Saturday said it has arrested two individuals involved in an online fraud racket that used a fake medical donation appeal on Facebook, exploiting a woman’s image without her consent.
In a statement, police said that on May 30, 2025, Police Station Nowhatta received a written complaint from Muneer Ahmad Misger, son of Mohammad Sadiq Misger, a resident of Mughal Masjid, Nowhatta, stating that an unidentified journalist had uploaded a photograph of his sister on Facebook along with a fabricated story, appealing for public donations for her surgery.
“The act, carried out with malicious intent, amounted to cheating and exploitation,” the complainant wrote.
Following the complaint, a case (FIR no. 21/2025) was registered at Police Station Nowhatta under Sections 318(2) and 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and investigation was taken up.
During investigation, the administrator of the Facebook page responsible for the fraudulent post was identified as Mohammad Lateef Lone, son of Ali Mohammad Lone, resident of Tujan, Pulwama. He was subsequently arrested.
Another accused, Amir Yousuf Khan, son of Mohammad Yousuf Khan, originally from Bandipora and currently residing in Gulab Bagh, Zakoora, was also identified and arrested. Police said that Khan had provided the bank account details used to collect fraudulent donations.
“Both the accused persons have been arrested,” police confirmed.
The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests are expected as officials work to identify other individuals linked to the scam.
In the meantime, police have urged media personnel and members of the public not to share or engage with the said Facebook post. “It is part of a fraudulent scheme. Circulating such misleading content and false information may further the criminal motive and cause additional distress to the victim’s family,” the statement said.
Police have also appealed to the general public to remain alert and immediately report any suspicious or illegal online fundraising activities to the nearest police station.
