Guwahati: A notorious cybercriminal, Sariful Islam, who allegedly masterminded a massive cyber fraud network across Assam, was finally arrested in Kolkata on Thursday, bringing an end to a two-and-a-half-year-long manhunt. The special operation, executed by a team from Morigaon Police with crucial assistance from their Kolkata counterparts, successfully nabbed Islam, who had been on the run since 2023.
Morigaon Police officials confirmed that Islam had been a slippery target, constantly changing his location to evade capture. A dedicated team from Morigaon spent six days meticulously tracking his movements in Kolkata, culminating in his dramatic arrest yesterday. Police sources revealed that Islam is the alleged mastermind behind a series of large-scale cybercrime incidents, through which he is suspected of having siphoned off crores of rupees from unsuspecting victims.
Multiple criminal cases have been registered against Islam in various police stations across Assam, highlighting the widespread nature of his criminal enterprise. In a significant development, Morigaon Police, acting on a court directive, have already seized land and property in Morigaon town, which is believed to have been purchased with the ill-gotten gains from his fraudulent activities. The arrest is a major breakthrough for law enforcement agencies, who had described Islam as a central and elusive figure in the state’s cybercrime network.
The investigation is currently in full swing, with authorities focusing on identifying and apprehending Islam’s accomplices and recovering additional assets linked to his extensive cyber fraud operations. His arrest is expected to deal a severe blow to the cybercrime syndicate operating in the region and is being hailed as a significant victory in the fight against online financial fraud.