Srinagar Police bust 'cheating and stolen-gold' racket

Srinagar, Nov 20: J&K Police in Srinagar has achieved a major breakthrough by cracking a multi-district cheating and stolen-gold racket operating across the Kashmir Valley.

A press statement by Police said that Police Station Lal Bazar arrested Asmat Jan @Taboo, a woman wanted in multiple cases of cheating and fraud registered in Lal Bazar, Safakadal, Chadoora, Sopore, and Khrew (Awantipora). The accused had been evading arrest for a long time, frequently shifting locations between West Bengal, Punjab, Maharashtra, and Jammu to avoid law enforcement.

Acting on specific intelligence, five dedicated teams of PS Lal Bazar—under the supervision of the SDPO and Zonal SP—tracked and apprehended her from Hotel White House, Jalandhar (Punjab) after sustained efforts, the press note added. The Gold Association of Kashmir Valley had earlier expressed serious concern over her repeated involvement in cheating gold shopkeepers across the region. In this regard, FIR No. 42/2025 stands registered at PS Lal Bazar under Sections 303(2) and 318(4) of the BNS.

Police has arrested associates identified as Shameem Ahmad Sheikh a goldsmith at Bohri Kadal for knowingly purchasing stolen gold ornaments at undervalued rates and facilitating their concealment and circulation and Basir Ahmad Dar for his role in transporting and disposing of stolen gold.