How Mathura Villages Became 'Mini Jamtara': Police Arrest 42 in Cyber Fraud Crackdown
On July 7, a coordinated pre-dawn raid in eight Mathura villages led to the arrest of 42 people, as police and drones pursued suspects fleeing across fields. The operation targeted an organised cyber fraud network that has earned the district the moniker 'Mini Jamtara'.
According to police officials, the arrested individuals range from alleged masterminds to low-level operatives, reflecting a highly structured network with cells across India. Over the past year, 177 cyber fraud cases have been registered and 312 suspects arrested. Investigators have traced around 7,000 mobile phone numbers and 1,400 bank accounts to these villages using the Ministry of Home Affairs' cybercrime platforms.
The Mathura region, along with Rajasthan's Bharatpur, has become a prominent hub for cyber fraud, surpassing traditional hotspots like Jharkhand's Jamtara. A 2023 study by the Future Crime Research Foundation found that Bharatpur and Mathura account for 18% and 12% of cybercrime cases respectively, with the top 10 hubs collectively responsible for 80% of incidents.
Police have identified 18 villages near the borders of Rajasthan and Haryana as operational bases. The proximity to other major hubs such as Bharatpur (40 km), Nuh (107 km), and Alwar (111 km) is believed to have contributed to the rise. Common factors include economic challenges, low digital literacy, and limited cybersecurity infrastructure.
Senior Superintendent of Police Shlok Kumar stated that raids are ongoing based on complaints and intelligence, and that the operations have significantly disrupted the networks. However, an officer noted that the scale is difficult to estimate, describing the operations as 'small-scale industries' that attract young people seeking easy money over education or conventional jobs.
Of the 312 arrested in the past year, many had prior records on the central Samanvay Portal, and multiple phone numbers and bank accounts were linked to complaints on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. The crackdown continues as police aim to dismantle the fraud networks operating in the region.
