Assam Police Bust Alleged Honey-Trap Gang, Arrest Five in Extortion Case

Assam Police have arrested five people, including two women and an alleged mastermind, for their suspected involvement in a honey-trapping and extortion racket in Jorhat district, officials said.

The case came to light after a private-sector bank manager from Tinsukia approached Jorhat Sadar Police Station with a complaint alleging that he had been blackmailed after being lured into a relationship through Instagram.

According to Officer-in-Charge Hrishikesh Hazarika, the bank manager befriended a woman from Jorhat on Instagram in July. Their online interaction allegedly developed into a personal relationship, following which the woman asked him to visit Jorhat on August 14.

The man reportedly reached Jorhat around 1 a.m. and was taken to a rented house in Seoni Ali. Police said two unidentified men subsequently entered the premises after the woman allegedly opened the door for them.

The men reportedly recorded compromising footage of the victim and threatened to circulate it on social media and send it to his family, according to the complaint.

The alleged gang initially demanded Rs 2 lakh, which the victim paid out of fear. Further demands of Rs 1 lakh and Rs 5 lakh were subsequently made. Police said the victim paid Rs 3 lakh in total before approaching the authorities.

Acting on the directions of the Senior Superintendent of Police, a special team led by Hazarika arrested Sanjib Das and Ankit Paul, both from Garmur, on October 2. They were produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody in Case No. 338/2026.

Further investigation allegedly identified Moromi Das Neog as the mastermind. A police team subsequently traced and arrested her in Dibrugarh based on specific intelligence inputs.

Police also arrested another woman, Baby Bora, along with her husband, Ankit Bora, in connection with the case.

Preliminary examination of mobile phones seized from the accused has indicated that the group may have targeted several financially well-off individuals, including businessmen and government and private-sector employees, using a similar modus operandi.

Hazarika said police are examining the digital evidence to identify other possible victims and determine the extent of the alleged racket.