KULGAM: Jammu and Kashmir Police have recovered ₹9.5 lakh allegedly withdrawn fraudulently from a woman’s bank account following an ATM card exchange in Mir Bazar, Kulgam, and arrested two women for their alleged role in receiving the proceeds of the crime.
According to police, the case was registered at Qazigund police station under FIR No. 254/2026 under Sections 303(2) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The complainant, Muneera Reshi of Pati Akhran, Kulgam, approached Police Post Mir Bazar on October 15, alleging that an unidentified person had fraudulently exchanged her ATM card at an ATM in Mir Bazar on October 5. Unauthorised transactions amounting to ₹9.5 lakh were subsequently carried out from her bank account, police said.
During the investigation, the main accused were identified as Vinender Singh alias Sheenu, a resident of Kesan Colony, Barwala, Hisar district, and Mukesh Singh of Hansi, also in Hisar district of Haryana. Police said their identities and residential details were established through CCTV footage, technical analysis and other investigative leads.
A police team subsequently travelled to Haryana to trace the accused and verify their addresses. However, both men were found absconding, with their residences locked, police said. Efforts are underway to apprehend them.
Police said the entire defrauded amount had been recovered from two women identified as Shanti Devi of Data Gurana, Hisar, and Rajpati Devi of Sorkhi, Hisar. Shanti Devi is the maternal aunt by marriage of Vinender Singh, while Rajpati Devi is the maternal aunt of Mukesh Singh, according to police.
Both women have been arrested for their alleged role in receiving the proceeds of the crime. Further investigation is underway to establish the sequence of events and determine the role of others involved.
Police have appealed to the public to share credible information about the whereabouts of the absconding accused with the nearest police station, Police Post Mir Bazar, Police Station Qazigund or the Police Control Room at 7051510660. Police said information would be handled confidentially, subject to applicable law.
Senior Superintendent of Police Kulgam Anayat Ali Choudhary advised people to remain vigilant while using ATMs and cautioned against handing over ATM cards or disclosing PINs, one-time passwords (OTPs) and banking credentials to strangers. He also urged customers to report suspicious activity and unauthorised transactions to their banks and the police immediately.