Cyber crime gang member arrested in Jaunpur

A member of an international gang involved in cyber crime causing immense loss to mobile phone companies has been arrested in Jaunpur, 60 km from here, police said today.

Acting on a tip-off, Madhya Pradesh police contacted their Jaunpur counterparts about some local people involved in an international cyber crime racket.

A team of Special Operation Group (SOG) and local police raided the gang's hideout near Jafrabad railway station and arrested Meraj Ahmed yesterday, Jaunpur SP Ram Bharose said.

A countrymade revolver and live cartridges were found in his possession.

The SP said a BSNL officer had lodged an FIR with Damoh police in Madhya Pradesh against Meraj Ahmed. In the FIR, the officer said the gang had procured BSNL postpaid SIM cards on the basis of fake identity proofs and addresses, and were using them for making calls to Gulf countries.

Some BSNL employees are also part of the nexus, who ensured that there was no billing of such calls, he said.

Apart from BSNL, employees of other mobile phone companies are also involved, he said.

MP police had earlier arrested one gang member who later revealed the name of Meraj. Names of more people have come out who would be arrested in the coming days, he said.

A team of MP police has also reached Jaunpur to take Meraj in their custody, for taking him to Damoh for further interrogation.

Police had earlier declared a reward of Rs20,000 for capturing Meraj.