Bokaro Voter ID ATM PAN Card Dumped in Jungle: Probe Ordered Amid Cyber Fraud Fears

Bokaro: Hundreds of voter IDs along with ATM and PAN cards were found dumped in a jungle along the road from TV Tower to Sector 11 under Sector 6 police station late on Monday, raising fears of possible misuse linked to cyber fraud. Deputy commissioner Ajay Nath Jha on Tuesday said that he has ordered a probe into the incident.

The documents were spotted scattered across the area by local residents, who alerted the police. A team from Sector 6 police station rushed to the spot and recovered around 500 voter ID cards, 70 ATM cards and 25 PAN cards, most carrying validity periods between 2027 and 2030.

Preliminary scrutiny shows the voter IDs contain personal details of residents from various parts of the district. Police said many of the cards belong to people living in Joshi Colony, Lakdakhanda, Siwandih and Maraphari areas.

Officer-in-charge of Sector 6 police station, Sangita Kumari, said all the recovered documents have been seized and probe is underway. “We are verifying those with the issuing authorities. We are examining all possible angles, including a potential link with recent cyber fraud cases in the area,” she said.

The recovery comes weeks after police arrested four youths for alleged cyber fraud from a rented flat in the city on April 16. Investigators are probing whether the dumped cards are connected to that case.

DC Jha said that Chas SDO Pranjal Dhadha has been asked to conduct a detailed inquiry and submit a report within 24 hours. “The investigation will reveal who collected them, for what purpose, and why they were disposed of,” he said.