Assam Police Bust Biometric Scam; Two Accused Arrested for Duping Unemployed Youths

A suspicious biometric data collection operation in Assam’s Cachar district has led to the arrest of two men accused of conducting an unauthorized facial scanning and biometric registration drive by allegedly offering cash incentives to local youths. Police said the operation raised serious concerns after hundreds of people were reportedly enrolled without any clear explanation regarding how their personal data would be used.

The accused, identified as Vanlalrinchhana and Raymond Vatha Chozah, both residents of Mizoram, were arrested following a police crackdown in Silchar. Authorities said the biometric registration camp was operating from a marriage hall in the city and had already collected data from a large number of individuals before police intervened.

According to investigators, the two men allegedly claimed to be associated with an American multinational company and used that claim to convince unemployed youths to participate in the registration exercise. Participants were reportedly offered around Rs 200 in exchange for facial recognition scans and biometric enrollment, attracting many young people seeking quick cash.

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Police officials said biometric details of more than 200 individuals may have been collected during the operation. Authorities grew suspicious after organizers reportedly failed to provide valid authorization documents, government approvals, or any clear information regarding the purpose of the data collection exercise and the eventual use of the sensitive personal information being gathered.

Cachar Additional Superintendent of Police Rajat Pal said investigators considered the activity highly suspicious due to the lack of transparency surrounding the operation. Officials are now examining the equipment used during the biometric drive, the nature of the collected data, and whether any larger network or organization may have been involved in coordinating the exercise.

The incident has triggered concerns about data privacy and the misuse of biometric information, especially as digital identity systems become increasingly important in financial, government, and communication services. Police are continuing their investigation to determine whether the collected data was intended for fraudulent activities or illegal circulation.

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