Kulgam, Oct 27: Kulgam Police has recovered ₹9.5 lakh in an ATM fraud case and arrested two women for allegedly receiving the proceeds of crime, while two main accused are absconding.
In a handout, the police said that the case was registered under FIR No. 254/2026 under Sections 303(2) and 318(4) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Police Station Qazigund after a woman, Muneera Reshi, wife of Gulzar Ahmad Shaan, resident of Pati Akhran, Kulgam, lodged a complaint at Police Post Mir Bazar on October 15, stating that her ATM card was fraudulently exchanged by an unknown person at an ATM in Mir Bazar on October 5, and subsequently ₹9.5 lakh was withdrawn from her account through unauthorised transactions.
During investigation, police identified the main accused as Vinender Singh @ Sheenu, son of Roshan Lal, resident of Kesan Colony, Ward No. 12, Barwala, Hisar, Haryana and Mukesh Singh, son of Rajuram, resident of Hansi, District Hisar, Haryana, on the basis of CCTV footage, technical analysis and other leads.
A police team from Police Post Mir Bazar was sent to Haryana to trace the accused, however both were found absconding and their houses were found locked. Efforts are on to nab them.
Meanwhile, police recovered the entire defrauded amount of ₹9.5 lakh from two women, identified as Shanti Devi, wife of Nathu Ram, resident of Data Gurana, District Hisar, Haryana — maternal aunt-in-law (Mami) of accused Vinender Singh, and Rajpati Devi, wife of Raj Kumar, resident of Sorkhi, District Hisar, Haryana — maternal aunt (Masi) of accused Mukesh Singh.
Both women have been arrested for allegedly receiving the stolen amount. Further investigation is underway.
Kulgam Police have appealed to the general public to share any credible information regarding the whereabouts of absconding accused Vinender Singh @ Sheenu and Mukesh Singh with the nearest Police Station, Police Post Mir Bazar, Police Station Qazigund or PCR on +91 70515 10660, assuring that the information will be kept confidential.
SSP Kulgam, Anayat Ali Choudhary, IPS, has advised people to remain vigilant during ATM transactions and not to hand over ATM cards or share PINs, OTPs and banking credentials with unknown persons, and to avoid taking help from strangers at ATMs and immediately report any suspicious activity to bank and police.(GNS)
