In a major crackdown on cybercrime, police dismantled an online gaming and international betting racket operating from a hotel in Dhubri town on Sunday and arrested four youths allegedly involved in the illegal operation.
Acting on specific intelligence, a police team raided Room No. 57 of Afreen Hotel on N.S. Road at around 11.15 am. During the operation, the accused were allegedly caught red-handed while running the online gambling network.
The arrested have been identified as Haran Ali (20), son of Md. Jakir Hussain and a resident of Kalapakani Part-II, Reserve Char, Dhubri; Abdul Matin (20), son of Omed Ali and a resident of Balughat, Phoolbari Bridge, South Salmara; Hosen Ali (20), son of Mohiruddin and a resident of Kalapakani Part-II, Dhubri; and Osman Gani (22), son of Rohijuddin and a resident of Kalapakani Part-II, Dhubri.
Police seized six mobile phones from the accused during the raid. A preliminary investigation and digital forensic examination of the devices reportedly revealed extensive financial transactions linked to the betting operation.
According to Dhubri Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Pritam Das, records recovered from the seized mobile phones indicated that the racket involved transactions in US dollars and other foreign currencies, pointing to the possibility of an international network behind the operation.
All four accused have been taken into custody, and legal proceedings have been initiated against them. Police said further investigation is underway to trace the wider network and identify other individuals allegedly connected to the betting syndicate.
