Noida has recently seen a troubling uptick in violent crimes and sophisticated fraud operations, which have raised serious concerns among its residents. Three alarming incidents emerged over the past week, highlighting both personal safety and the increasing complexity of criminal activities.
One shocking event involved Suman Yadav, who reported to the police being held hostage by her recently hired cook, originally from Bihar. The incident occurred last Saturday at her home located in Noida’s Sector 61. According to Suman, she was alone when the cook, whose identity remains undisclosed, along with two accomplices, called her over and demanded the keys to the cupboards. "The three of them forcibly took the cupboard keys from me and stole cash, jewellery, property papers and other valuables," Suman stated, as reported by the Indian Express. Following the theft, they locked her in a room and fled with her family’s Fortuner car.
Fortunately, the family later found the stolen car abandoned near a temple. The Noida Police have since launched efforts to track down the suspects, with CCTV footage from the vicinity being analyzed for leads. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Noida) Sumit Shukla indicated significant progress has been made, stating, "Teams from the Noida Police and the forensics department have started identifying the cook’s accomplices," and underscored the possibility of those involved being local security guards.
Meanwhile, another violent crime rattled the community when 29-year-old bank data manager Manjeet Mishra was shot dead during broad daylight on Friday morning. Mishra was on his way to work in Greater Noida when two unidentified assailants on a motorcycle intercepted his vehicle and shot him in the head. This tragic incident, recorded by the car's dashboard camera, has led Mishra’s family to accuse his wife, Megha Rathore, and her relatives of orchestrated the murder. Tension reportedly stemmed from his inter-caste marriage; Mishra, of Brahmin background, married Rathore, who belongs to the Thakur caste, against his family's wishes. His sister, Rupam, alleged, "His in-laws resented him for being from a 'lower caste' and had repeatedly threatened him." She revealed he had previously lodged complaints with the Ghaziabad Police due to these threats.
The local police are investigating, having detained Mishra’s wife and brother-in-law for questioning as they sift through the dashboard camera footage for additional clues. A community grieves for the loss but remains active as they demand justice and the truth behind this tragic assassination.
On the other side of Noida, authorities executed a large-scale operation on December 13, 2024, dismantling what's been labeled as one of the most extensive fake call centers operating within the region. This operation was led by the Noida Police, apprehending 76 individuals, including both men and women, suspected of perpetrated fraud against foreign nationals. The call center, named “Instal Solution,” not only impersonated representatives from celebrated organizations like Amazon and Microsoft but also operated under various fraudulent pretenses, offering fake services such as “Amazon Parcel Support” and “Tax Support.”
During the raid, the police seized items including 58 laptops, mobile phones, and various electronic devices, which were utilized for committing these crimes. The modus operandi included acquiring personal data of target victims, primarily U.S. citizens, through advanced techniques. They would impersonate tech support, falsely claiming issues with their devices and demand payments. "The syndicate had been scamming foreign nationals by posing as representatives of well-known organizations," reported Noida Police during the operation. Investigators revealed various deceptive payment methods were employed, including asking victims to purchase gift cards from major retailers to settle damages.
Law enforcement officials continue to explore the operations of the arrested suspects, known to have prior criminal records, to unearth any larger networks involved. The operation highlights the terrifying rise of cybercrime, pushing residents and law enforcement alike to stay vigilant and aware of their surroundings and the potential threats around them.
The convergence of violent crime and sophisticated fraud networks has shaken the citizens of Noida, urging both the community and police to take urgent action to protect public safety and restore confidence. Each incident underlines not just the personal tragedies involved but also hints at wider systemic issues requiring diligence and rectification to prevent such occurrences from becoming commonplace.