A missing girl was traced in J&K’s Baramulla district within two hours, and a major theft case cracked within 24 hours, police said on Monday.

Demonstrating prompt response, effective coordination and strong police-public cooperation, J&K Police in Baramulla successfully traced a missing minor girl within just two hours of receiving information about her whereabouts, the Kashmir Zone police said in a statement.

PCR Baramulla on Monday received a police signal regarding a minor girl, reported missing from Uttar Pradesh’s Barolia, with her last known location traced to Baramulla. Acting promptly on the information, PCR Baramulla immediately conveyed the alert to Police Station Chandoosa for necessary action. Taking swift cognisance, Police Station Chandoosa circulated the information among Beat Officers and launched coordinated efforts to trace the girl. With the assistance of the local Lambardar and Chowkidar, the missing minor girl was successfully traced from Murran Tangwari village and brought to the police station within two hours of receipt of the information.

During preliminary questioning, it emerged that the girl had travelled from Uttar Pradesh to Jammu and subsequently Srinagar after coming into contact with a boy through Snapchat while playing the online game ‘Free Fire’.

Following necessary formalities, the minor girl was handed over to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Baramulla, through the Police Welfare Officer, accompanied by women police personnel, for her safety, care, and further necessary action.

Police Station Hassan Ganj in Uttar Pradesh, and PCR Baramulla were also informed. The prompt action by J&K Police reflects its alertness, efficient inter-district coordination and unwavering commitment towards the safety and protection of children, the statement said, adding that the police reiterates its commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of every citizen, particularly children and vulnerable sections of society.

In another swift and professionally executed operation, Baramulla police have solved a theft case within 24 hours, recovering all eight stolen deep freezers, arresting four accused persons, and seizing the vehicle used in the commission of the offence.

A written complaint was lodged by Nazir Ahmad Kanroo, owner of Kanroo Enterprises, regarding the theft of deep freezers from his warehouse located at Gousia Colony, near Gulnar Park, Baramulla.

Accordingly, a case under relevant sections of BNS was registered at Police Station Baramulla, and investigation was taken up. During the course of investigation, police teams conducted technical analysis and identified several suspects for questioning.

During questioning, one of the suspects, identified as Adil Hassan Dar, resident of Zogiyar, Sheeri, disclosed his involvement in the offence along with his associates.

Further investigation revealed that a pickup vehicle bearing registration No. JK01AF-7379, driven by Arif Hussain Wani, was used to transport the stolen property.

The stolen deep freezers had subsequently been distributed among the accused and their associates. Acting swiftly on the leads developed during investigation, multiple police teams were constituted and dispatched to different locations.

Through coordinated efforts and systematic searches, police successfully recovered all eight stolen deep freezers – five from the possession of Showkat Ahmad Dar alias Sahil, two from the shop of Asif Amin Tantary, and one from the residence of Wani.

The vehicle used in the commission of the offence was also seized, and all four accused persons have been arrested in accordance with due legal procedure.

The successful detection of the case within 24 hours, recovery of the entire stolen property and seizure of the vehicle reflect the swift response, professional investigation, effective technical analysis and coordinated efforts of J&K Police, the zonal police said.

Further investigation is underway to establish the complete chain of the offence and ascertain the possible involvement of any other persons. Police reiterate their commitment to protecting the life and property of citizens and ensuring prompt action against criminal activities, the statement said.

The ED attached immovable and movable properties worth Rs 53.95 crore in a bank fraud by a private company that resulted in a loss of over Rs 2,200 crore to a consortium of banks led by Indian Overseas Bank and 16 other banks, an official said on Monday.

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Mumbai Zone-I, provisionally attached the assets of Parekh Aluminex Limited (PAL) under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. (MLA), 2002.

Till date, the ED has attached total assets of Rs 546 crore in this case, the statement said.

The ED investigation was initiated on the basis of an FIR registered by CBI, EOW Mumbai and EOB Mumbai against Parekh Aluminex Limited, and others for offences under Sections 420 and 120-BIPC, 1860 and Sections 13(1)d) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

Investigation has revealed that PAL fraudulently obtained loan from a consortium of banks by submitting inflated stock and debtor statements and later loan accounts of PAL were declared NPA for an amount of Rs 2,296 crore, the ED said.

The ED’s Investigation revealed that JK Shah Group assisted in the diversion of the Proceeds of Crime amounting to Rs 110.54 crore through various entities and persons.

One of the beneficiaries of the Proceeds of Crime received and enjoyed Rs 70.25 crore, forming part of the total Proceeds of Crime of Rs 2,296.58 crore, the ED said.

The ED had already attached assets worth Rs 493 crore in this case. A prosecution complaint (charge sheet) has also been filed before the Special Court (PMLA), Mumbai, which has taken cognisance of the offence, said the statement.

The conspirators inflicted a wrongful loss on a consortium of banks led by Indian Overseas Bank and 16 other banks, and the ED is examining the incriminating documents recovered during search operations to identify other players in the bank fraud, said the statement.

A late-night encounter took place between the police and suspected criminals in Noida’s Sector 63 area on Sunday night, resulting in two accused sustaining bullet injuries and the arrest of two others.

Police recovered illegal firearms, live cartridges, knives, and two motorcycles allegedly used in robbery incidents from the accused.

According to the police, the four suspects were travelling on two motorcycles and were allegedly on their way to commit a crime when a police team conducting vehicle checks near the Sector 62 roundabout signalled them to stop.

DCP Praveen Ranjan Singh says, “In accordance with the directions of the Gautam Buddha Nagar authorities, tonight the Sector 63 police station team was conducting checking operations at the Sector 62 intersection. Four individuals riding on two motorcycles were spotted approaching. When the police attempted to stop them for checking, both motorcycle riders turned back and sped off…”

During the pursuit, the accused crossed the S-Block intersection and entered the green belt area. When police teams tried to intercept them, they reached the Bahalolpur underpass. Realising they were surrounded, the suspects allegedly opened fire on the police. The police retaliated in self-defence, during which two of the accused were shot in the legs and were overpowered.

Following the encounter, police launched a combing operation in the area and apprehended the remaining two suspects, identified as Shankar Sharma and Kapil Kashyap. With their arrest, all four accused involved in the incident were taken into custody.

Police seized two country-made pistols, cartridges and two knives from the accused. The two motorcycles allegedly used in criminal activities were also impounded.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused used to offer lifts to unsuspecting people on their motorcycles and subsequently rob them. Police said all four have extensive criminal records, and efforts are underway to gather details of their previous cases and other criminal activities.

DCP Singh said police teams have been carrying out continuous checking drives and action against criminals under directives issued by the Gautam Buddh Nagar administration.