In recent weeks, complaints have surged across West Bengal regarding the disappearance of funds allocated for tablets under the state government’s “Taruner Swapno” (Dream of Youth) scheme. This program, aimed at aiding the academic needs of 11th and 12th-grade students, provides a one-time grant of INR 10,000. However, several students, especially in Kolkata, report that the funds intended for their bank accounts have either vanished or been mistakenly deposited elsewhere. In response, Kolkata Police has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to dig into the details of this concerning issue.
Funds Gone Missing: How It All Started
The problem first surfaced in East Burdwan, where several students reportedly failed to receive their tablet funds, with accounts showing erroneous deposits elsewhere. As more students voiced similar issues, the cases multiplied across different districts, including complaints from multiple Kolkata schools. Law enforcement agencies took notice, with Kolkata Police receiving complaints from over 100 students reporting missing funds. According to officials, complaints have been filed across police stations in areas like Jadavpur, Kasba, Beniapukur, Maniktala, Watgunj, Sarsuna, Jorasanko, Golf Green, and Bhawanipore, each noting various cases of funds either misrouted or simply missing.
SIT Formed to Tackle Growing Concerns
To handle these widespread reports, Kolkata Police’s Lalbazar headquarters has assembled a Special Investigation Team (SIT). The team’s mandate includes investigating how funds disappeared and tracking down individuals connected to the cyber fraud. In an initial breakthrough, police have already arrested two individuals from Chopra in North Dinajpur, Krishna Pada Barman and Sariful Islam. The suspects, a farmer and a tea worker respectively, reportedly have ties to local cyber cafes, raising suspicions of a broader network of cyber fraud.
District-wide Complaints Reflect a Growing Cybersecurity Issue
The issue, once contained to East Burdwan, has now reached urban areas like Kolkata, with many students from prominent schools reporting losses. According to sources, about 12 students from a Jadavpur school and 31 students from another school in Thakurpukur are among the complainants. The police reports show that in numerous cases, money meant for one student was incorrectly credited to someone else’s account. Additional reports from Kasba, Jorasanko, and Beniapukur schools highlight similar problems, suggesting a deeper, systemic flaw in fund allocation.
A Broader Investigation: Tracing the Cyber Fraud Network
With incidents now reported from multiple districts, police across Bengal have initiated their own local SITs to expedite the investigations. The police teams are collaborating with cybersecurity experts to understand the mechanisms behind these unauthorized transfers and misallocations. Several arrests have already been made, and more suspects may emerge as the probe unfolds. Kolkata Police’s cyber division is working diligently to trace the flow of funds and to pinpoint those responsible.
A Concern for the Future of Student Support Schemes
The government’s “Taruner Swapno” project, designed to assist students in acquiring essential digital tools, is a critical component in supporting young learners across West Bengal. The sudden uptick in cyber fraud poses a significant challenge to the future of similar student-support initiatives. As investigations proceed, law enforcement agencies are hopeful of not only retrieving the lost funds but also implementing enhanced cybersecurity measures to protect students from similar scams in the future.