Jalgaon police carry out operation drop case in five villages of Muktainagar

Nashik: The Jalgaon police on Friday launched a major crackdown, dubbed “Operation Drop Case”, across five villages in Muktainagar taluka to dismantle an organised robbery and cheating network allegedly operating through social media.A “drop case” is a modus operandi in which victims are lured into buying rare items or precious metals at throwaway prices and then robbed after reaching a designated location.Jalgaon Superintendent of Police Shrikant Dhivare said teams raided Lalgota, Halkheda, Madhapuri, Jondhankheda and Chartana villages, where some residents allegedly targeted victims from across the country. Police seized Rs 20 lakh in cash, gold and silver ornaments, fake currency notes and other incriminating material.Animal skins of a deer, fox and rabbit were also recovered, resulting in multiple FIRs under the Arms Act, Wildlife Protection Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Fifty-six suspects have been detained for questioning.According to police, the accused used social media to advertise black turmeric, cobra pearls (Nagmani), inverted utensils, counterfeit currency, aluminium scrap, old gold, copper and conch shells.

Victims were lured to the villages with promises of lucrative deals before being cheated or robbed.Police records show that in the past three years, the area has witnessed 10 dacoity cases, one dacoity-cum-murder, one murder, seven aggravated robberies, 16 cheating cases and two assaults on public servants.“During the large-scale operation launched early Friday morning, police seized Rs 20 lakh in cash, gold and silver ornaments, fake currency notes, etc.,” SP Dhivare said, adding that interrogation of the detainees is expected to expose the wider network and help solve pending cases.