Srinagar, May 20 -- The surfacing of a large-scale loan fraud in Bandipora district is not merely a financial scandal; it is a brutal reminder of how systemic vulnerabilities can be weaponized against the most fragile sections of society. What makes this case chilling is not only the scale of deception but the profile of its victims: daily wage earners, their spouses, and even minors. These are individuals least equipped to navigate complex financial systems, yet their identities were misused, their entitlements siphoned away, and their trust turned into a tool of exploitation.

The narrative emerging from the villages is one of betrayal layered with manipulation. Residents were lured with promises of small benefits, asked to submit Aadha...