Jorhat (Assam), 07 October (H.S.): Jorhat Police have arrested five persons, including two women, in connection with an alleged honey-trapping and extortion racket following a complaint by a private-sector bank manager from Tinsukia, police said on Wednesday.

According to Jorhat Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Hrishikesh Hazarika, the matter came to light after the bank manager lodged an FIR on October 2. Police said the complainant had established contact with a woman from Jorhat through Instagram in July and subsequently developed a relationship with her through social media.

The woman allegedly called him to Jorhat on August 14. The bank manager reached the town around 1 am and was taken to a rented house in the Seoni Ali area, police said.

According to the complaint, while the two were inside the house, two men allegedly arrived and recorded the incident after entering the premises. They allegedly threatened to circulate the video on social media and send it to his family members unless he paid money.

The accused initially allegedly demanded ₹2 lakh, which the complainant paid, followed by another demand of ₹1 lakh. Police said the bank manager paid ₹3 lakh in total before the alleged group demanded a further ₹5 lakh.

After receiving repeated threats, the complainant approached Jorhat Police and informed senior officers about the incident. Acting on the directions of the Jorhat Senior Superintendent of Police, a team led by Hazarika began the investigation.

Police arrested two youths, identified as Sanjib Das and Ankit Paul, both residents of Garmur under Jorhat Sadar Police Station, on October 2. They were subsequently produced before a court and sent to judicial custody. The case has been registered as Jorhat Police Station Case No. 338/2026.

During the investigation, police allegedly identified Moromi Das Neog as the mastermind of the racket. A team was sent to Dibrugarh to trace her and she was later arrested following a specific lead.

Police also arrested another woman, Baby Bora and her husband, Ankit Bora. With these arrests, three men and two women have been apprehended in the case.

Hazarika said a preliminary examination of mobile phones seized from the accused suggested that the group may have targeted other people using a similar modus operandi. Police suspect that financially well-off individuals, including businessmen and employees of government and private-sector organisations, may have been targeted.

“This is a pure case of honey-trapping,” Hazarika said.

Police are now analysing the digital evidence recovered during the investigation and working to identify other possible victims. Further investigation is underway.-------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash