Faridpur Correspondent

The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) in Faridpur has arrested two members of an organized syndicate of fraudulent faith healers, Kabirajes, and self-proclaimed "Jinn’s Kings" who exploited public trust by cloning the mobile numbers of reliable individuals to extort large sums of money.

The arrested suspects are Md. Rajib (28), son of Ramzan Sheikh from Mulpattam village under Borhanuddin upazila in Bhola district, and Suman Howlader (26), son of the late Moslem Howlader from Fulkachia village.

PBI Superintendent of Police Md. Rabiul Islam disclosed the details during a press briefing held at the Faridpur PBI district office on Wednesday  at 11:00 am.

According to SP Rabiul Islam, on March 25, 2024, around 10:00 am, members of the syndicate cloned the mobile number of a trusted local figure named Bijoy Babu and contacted Rashidul Islam, a rice trader at Binodpur Bazar in Rajbari district. Offering to sell 33 tons of rice at a cheap rate, they convinced him to make a business purchase. Assuring him that the delivery would arrive by 4:00 pm, the fraudsters instructed Rashidul to send money immediately. Believing the call came from Bijoy Babu, Rashidul initially sent Tk 50,000 via bKash and subsequently transferred a total of Tk 3,75,000 across multiple bKash and Nagad numbers.

When the delivery failed to arrive by afternoon, Rashidul contacted Bijoy Babu directly, only to learn that he knew nothing about the transaction, making it clear that he had fallen victim to fraud. Following the incident, the trader filed a case at Rajbari Sadar Police Station.

The SP noted that after local police failed to make headway, the case was transferred to the PBI eight months later at the plaintiff's request. Using intelligence data, confidential sources, and information technology, a PBI team conducted a raid on the night of October 19 and arrested Suman and subsequently Rajib from Kunjerhat under Borhanuddin upazila in Bhola.

Investigators revealed that the syndicate targeted vulnerable citizens by promising solutions to incurable or secret diseases, success in love, and marital happiness, operating under the guise of Jinn’s Kings, spiritualists, and Kabirajes using advanced technology. The suspects have reportedly given confessional statements under Section 164 before the court detailing their criminal activities.

While different members of the ring handled number cloning, information gathering, or mobile financial service cash-outs, efforts are underway to apprehend remaining fugitives associated with the fraud network.

Local journalists from various print and electronic media outlets were present at the press conference.