Siliguri: They would pose as policemen and say, “ saamne encounter Chal Raha hai, aapka jewelry pehen ke Jaana theek nahin hai. Isko utaar ke iss kaagaz main rakhiye ‘’ and then, with a trick of hand, change the jewelry!
In the month of October and November, a couple of cases of swindling of jewelry by cheating and impersonating as police officers were reported under Siliguri Police Station.
The first incident was reported at Punjabi Para on 30.10.21 in which the Victim lady was going to market. When she reached Sevoke Road, in front of M Bazaar City Mall, to take a rickshaw, one person came nearby her and showed her one police identity card and asked her if they are police personnel in civil dress. They told her that their senior officer is calling her. Then the complainant went to the so-called police officer who directed her to remove her gold ornaments. He gave her one piece of paper for wrapping the aforesaid gold ornaments. They put the said packet inside her bazaar bag and tightened the knot of the bag as a security measure. They told her to return to her house and keep the said ornaments in her safe custody. The complainant, in good faith, returned to her house and found that her gold ornaments have been replaced with imitation ones.
Another incident occurred on 16.11.21. In this, while the aged victim was waiting to catch a bus at H. C. Road near Bata Gali, two persons, who introduced them as special security forces, started to search the complainant and asked to give his gold finger ring and neck chain. The complainant handed over the ornaments to them. Just like previous times, they returned the same, wrapped in paper. Later the complainant saw that said gold finger ring and chain are fake and it is replaced.
Siliguri police took it up as a challenge. They scourged through various CCTVs, examined witnesses, and used various technical and manual inputs. PC teams took it up as a priority task to unearth this gang. Nakas were meticulously and sharply planned.
On 28.1.22, input was received that a similar gang was spotted in the city. A web of nakas and PCs team with DD, PS, and Traffic sieged the city. The vehicles with matching descriptions were intercepted. Out of all of them, two motorcycles, with BR number, finally matched the description of both, the criminals and the vehicles. The accused were immediately taken into custody. Later, they were identified by victims also under the due process of law. They are Fateh Ali (46), Sahil Ali (34), Sajjad Ali (50)
Soon their associates shall also be rounded up and brought to books. IC Siliguri Police Station, Inspector Mr. Sudip Chakraborty, SI Mr. Prasenjit Dey Sarkar, SI Mr. Uday Chakraborty along with the PC team of Siliguri Police Station has contributed immensely to the detection of the gang.
We advise our citizens that at no point in time ever any policemen shall ask you to part with your jewelry. If you encounter any such person, especially if they are in plain clothes, then immediately inform us at Dial 100. This will help us to serve you better.
Our, Reporter in Chief
R. Manoj Kumar Sharma
Siliguri City, West Bengal
