Action stepped up against Hundi, Crypto

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Apr. 17: Kathmandu District Police Range, Bhadrakali, has published its progress report for mid-April, revealing that 1,166 criminal cases of various categories were registered in just one month, with financial offences accounting for the largest share. 

Police said they achieved notable success through action against illegal hundi operations, unlawful cryptocurrency trading and major narcotics networks.

According to the report made public on Wednesday, 564 of the total registered cases were related to financial crimes. Likewise, 214 involved heinous and serious offences, 46 concerned women, children and senior citizens, while 342 fell under other categories.

Cybercrime and online fraud cases were also on the rise. In one month alone, police received 261 complaints related to cyber offences. Of these, the highest number, 100 complaints, were linked to online shopping fraud. This was followed by 40 cases of OTP fraud or account hacking, and 30 complaints involving parcel gift scams, according to SP Pawan Kumar Bhattarai of the Range.

According to the report, 378 fugitives were arrested during the month as part of verdict enforcement efforts, while 894 individuals were detained in connection with various ongoing cases. In addition, 20 Ugandan nationals were taken into custody from the Thamel area on allegations of harassing tourists and the public.

Police also disclosed that 273 missing person reports were filed during the month from mid-March to mid-April, of whom 159 people were found. The report further recorded 46 suicides during the same period.