Srinagar: Srinagar Police on Thursday said it has arrested a woman accused in multiple cheating and stolen-gold cases along with her two associates, cracking a racket that had been operating across several districts of the Kashmir Valley.
Police Station Lal Bazar conducted the operation following sustained intelligence inputs that led to the tracking of the prime accused, identified as Asmat Jan alias Taboo, who was wanted in several cheating and fraud cases in Lal Bazar, Safakadal, Chadoora, Sopore and Khrew in Awantipora. According to officials, she had been evading law enforcement for an extended period by frequently shifting locations in West Bengal, Punjab, Maharashtra and Jammu.
Five teams of PS Lal Bazar, working under the supervision of the SDPO and the Zonal SP, traced the accused to Hotel White House in Jalandhar, Punjab, where she was taken into custody. Police said the arrest followed weeks of coordinated efforts.
The Gold Association of Kashmir Valley had earlier raised concern over her repeated involvement in cheating gold shopkeepers. In this regard, FIR No. 42/2025 has been registered at PS Lal Bazar under Sections 303(2) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
During further investigation, police said credible evidence surfaced pointing to the involvement of two associates who were facilitating the disposal of stolen gold. Both have been arrested.
They have been identified as Shameem Ahmad Sheikh, son of Sonaullah Sheikh of Iqbal Colony, Indra Nagar, a goldsmith at Bohri Kadal accused of knowingly purchasing stolen gold at undervalued rates and helping in its concealment and circulation, and Basir Ahmad Dar, son of Abdul Aziz Dar of Nawakadal, who police said was involved in transporting and clandestinely disposing of stolen gold.
All three accused are in custody, and police said further arrests and recoveries are expected as the investigation progresses. [KNT]
