Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (EP)
Kasargod, Jul 9: Payyanur police on Wednesday July 9 arrested eight persons, five of whom are alleged to have been duping people by luring them with dollars in exchange for rupees.
Police said that the gang was into gold smuggling, peddling of tiger skin and such other criminal activities as well.
The arrested are identified as P A Basheer (34) from Manjathadka, Taliparamba resident T B Abdul Pathha (48), Koodlu R D Nagar resident S A Abdul Sattar (38), Mogral Puttur Gudde Temple road resident S Sattar (34), Koodlu Blarkodu resident Abdul Rahman (39), Pallikere resident A M Ayub (44), Kanhangad Kushalnagar resident H S Sheikh Karamatulla (43) and Mangalore Attavar resident A K Ibrahim (56).
The police seized three cars and some other items.
The group was arrested at Karivellur of national highways while traveling by car. The incident came to light when the police stopped the car for inspection during patrolling.
It is said that the accused would tell the victim that they were in possession of Americal dollars worth Rs 35 crore, and they were ready to sell them in exchange for rupees for at a lesser value. The gullible victims, believing the claim to be true, would give several thousands of rupees in advance, and the accused would hand over a bundle with black wrapper. In the bundle, there would be only two Americal dollar notes, while the rest just piece of paper.
This way, the group is alleged to have cheated several people by taking crores of rupees from them. Payyannur resident M K Bhaskaran, one of the victimes, had filed a complaint in this regard.
Bhaskaran alleged that the group had taken Rs 25,000 from him and given back a black bundle saying that that it contained dollars. However, only two genuine dollar notes were found in it, while the rest was blank paper. Many people who had been cheated had complained against them and the police
were on the lookout for the gang.
Police seized two dollar notes, Rs 25,000 and other items from the accused.
Payyanur ircle Inspector K Susheer led team had conducted the operation.