Mangalore: Man Poses as Mamata Banerjee's PA, Lures Students with Jobs in Railways
 
Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)
 
Mangalore, Nov 18: Until there are people to be cheated, there will be people to cheat, it is said.

A person, reportedly a North Indian with an office in Salafi centre near Kankanady market here, along with two of his companions, identified himself as the personal assistant (PA) of former union railway minister Mamata Banerjee to a number of students and lured them with jobs in the Indian railways. He planned to collect as much as Rs 3 lac from each job aspirant, it is said.

The racket has been operational since three or four weeks. The man reportedly told students to pay Rs 1000 for a job application which he said would be submitted to railway examination. As many as 500 students had applied for this job by paying the application form fees. Some students were sent messages as to what procedures were to be followed next.
 
The unsuspicious students (mostly girls) paid the money, and those who had not were told that Friday November 18 was the last day. No receipts were given for any of the money transactions.
 
However, a person began suspecting the men's intentions, and on Friday at around 3.30 pm Kadri police arrived at the spot and took the three persons into custody. Investigations are on.
 
It was told to students that there were different posts ranging from helper, gangman, porter, lightman, peon, ward boy in hospital, lift man, night watchman, gardener in Class 4 (Group D category), and traveling ticket examiner (TTE), enquiry-cum-reservation clerk, ticket collector, assistant station master, leverman, chemist in hospital, assistant loco pilot, guard, parcel assistant under Class 3 (group C) category and others.
 
The fraudsters' plan was to collect money at different levels like Rs 1000 for each application form and Rs 1.25 lac along with some other fees later, totalling Rs 3 lac for each 'job', it is said.
 
Police are also investigating whether he really has any connection with former railway minister Mamata Banerjee or if he was an imposter.