Ranchi:

The first phase of the Jharkhand assembly election is over. Now, all eyes are on Jamtara, a region in the state notorious for cyber frauds, yet brimming with promises of change and development.

On November 20, the people of Jamtara will decide between 13 candidates, but the contest is particularly heated between two candidates – Congress MLA Irfan Ansari and BJP’s Sita Soren, the daughter-in-law of Jharkhand’s political veteran Shibu Soren and sister-in-law of Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

Congress MLA Irfan Ansari rallies with the message of progress, touting his work in infrastructure and social development. His track record includes the construction of roads, hospitals, and a major bridge – one he claims to be the largest in Jharkhand’s history.

At a late-night gathering with supporters at his house, Mr Ansari reflects on his contributions, admitting that transforming Jamtara into a city akin to Ranchi or Deoghar needs time. “Jamtara was a village,” he says. “Now there are roads, hospitals, universities. I have given the biggest bridge in Jharkhand. But true transformation takes time.”

However, the Congress candidate recently found himself in controversy over a viral statement regarding his opponent. A first information report (FIR) was filed, though Mr Ansari claims the statement was doctored. He vows to pursue defamation after the election. “Watch the whole video,” he says. “I will resign from politics if I am wrong.”

On the other side, Sita Soren is running her campaign with a promise of “change.” The BJP candidate, an heir to the legacy of Durga Soren, pledges to fulfil her late husband’s dream of developing Jamtara. “My husband wanted to make Jama like Japan,” she says. “We need change across the entire state, not just Jamtara.”

The rivalry between Mr Ansari and Ms Soren has intensified with allegations flying from both sides. While Ms Soren rejects Mr Ansari’s statements as baseless accusations, she asserts her commitment to development. “If there is an incident, let them say it. Ever since I received the party ticket, they’ve been calling me an outsider. Prove it if it’s true,” she says.

The BJP has raised concerns over alleged Bangladeshi infiltration, particularly in Santhal Pargana areas, framing it as a significant election issue. The Congress, however, dismisses this as divisive politics. Mr Ansari challenges the narrative, asserting, “There are no infiltrators. This talk only poisons young minds.” Ms Soren, meanwhile, contends that demographic shifts raise valid concerns about the impact on tribal population.

Jamtara, once known for its ties to reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, has gained a darker reputation as a cybercrime hub, drawing national attention after becoming the subject of a web series. In villages such as Sindarjori and Karamatand, stories are abound of luxurious homes built with fraudulent wealth.

Police records show that in 2021, Jamtara saw 76 cybercrime cases with 187 arrests, with similar figures in 2022. Despite a dip in national cybercrime shares, Jamtara still bears nearly 10 per cent of India’s cases – a shadow that looms over the election landscape.

With a mixed electorate comprising 30.10 per cent Muslim and 27.12 per cent tribal voters, both Mr Ansari and Ms Soren are vying for influence within these demographics. The Congress’s strong historical hold, with 12 wins out of 18 elections since 1952, faces a formidable challenge from the BJP. Mr Ansari’s father, Furkan Ansari, served as MLA here five times, solidifying a family legacy.

Yet, as the campaign escalates, local youths expressed concern that the focus on national and party lines is overshadowing urgent local issues such as healthcare, education, and employment. “We need better schools and colleges, no talk about infiltrators,” says a local resident, Ganesh Mandal, highlighting the pressing need for emergency facilities and basic healthcare.

As Jamtara prepares to vote, the choice is between continuity and a new direction. With accusations, promises, and legacies in the mix, the electorate faces a complex decision. This high-stakes election may very well set the course for Jamtara’s future, as residents hope for a path that bridges their needs with the promises made on the campaign trail.

With its layered history and current notoriety, Jamtara remains a unique constituency. As election day nears, it stands as a microcosm of Jharkhand’s broader challenges-a battle for progress amidst legacy, change, and the ghosts of cybercrime.

The quantum of sentence will be pronounced on July 23
| Photo Credit: Reuters

A special Ranchi court on Saturday convicted five alleged cyber criminals hailing from Jharkhand’s Jamtara on money laundering charges.

The quantum of sentence will be pronounced on Tuesday.

The case is being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Those held guilty under various provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act are Ganesh Mandal, 51; his son Pradeep Kumar Mandal, 30; Santosh Mandal, 51; and his sons Pintu Mandal, 33; and Ankush Kumar Mandal, 27; who are from Mirga village in Jamtara, which had recently gained notoriety for being a hub of cybercrime. They have been taken into custody.

The five are among a large number of cyber criminals in Jamtara who have been either arrested or are wanted by various enforcement agencies on the charge of cheating hundreds of people in different parts of the country by fraudulently obtaining details of their bank accounts, credit/debit cards, and one-time passwords for carrying out illegal fund transfers. In 2020, Netflix brought out a series named Jamtara on the same issue.

FIR filed in 2015

The instant case is based on a first information report registered on December 29, 2015, at the Narayanpur police station in Jamtara. The police filed a chargesheet on July 22, 2016, alleging that Pradeep, Pintu, Mukesh, Ganpati, Prakash, and Vishu Mandal indulged in illegal withdrawal and transfer of funds from the accounts of the victims, by posing as bank officials.

The ED found that the gang members would call the prospective victims and threaten them that their ATM cards/accounts would be blocked and then get their banking details. They would subsequently transfer funds from the victims’ accounts to e-wallets such as M-Pesa, PayTm, PhonePe, and Mobikwik.

The funds were then transferred to various bank accounts and then withdrawn. The cash was again deposited in the accounts operated by gang members from various parts of the country, including Barmer, Madhopur, Mansarovar and Jaipur in Rajasthan; Jharkhand’s NSC Bose railway station, Gomoh, Giridih and Dhanbad; various places in Delhi; Bhubaneshwar and Ranihat in Odisha; Mumbai and Pune in Maharashtra; and Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. Almost all the money from most of the suspect accounts would be withdrawn.

According to the agency, Pradeep used to gather phone numbers of bank customers from the Internet and call them posing as a bank official to get the details. In about three years, he had raised close to ₹30 lakh using the modus operandi, it said. He was involved in the acquisition, concealment and transfer of proceeds of crime for construction of house, purchase of vehicles, and other activities. Pradeep’s father Ganesh had about ₹17 lakh in his one account and ₹7.71 lakh in another.

The ED collected details of over ₹9 lakh with respect to the accounts linked to Pintu, while nine such accounts related to Ankush had recorded credits totalling over ₹41 lakh.

Multiple phone numbers

The agency identified over 75 mobile numbers related to the accounts operated by Ankush that reflected transactions made through Immediate Payment Service/Person-to-Account Number/UPI/e-wallets. While 52 of them were registered with M-Pesa, 33 were on PhonePe and nine had been blacklisted at the instance of the Union Home Ministry for their use in suspected fraudulent activities.

The money laundering probe revealed that Ankush had created e-wallets in fictitious names on the basis of forged KYC details. Those accounts were used to receive large sums from other wallets and transfer funds to his own bank accounts for withdrawals in cash.

The fifth convict also had significant deposits in his account. Based on the findings, the agency had earlier attached assets worth ₹66 lakh in the same case in 2021.

During the probe, the agency recorded the statements of 13 persons, including some bank officials and the five gang members.