Gang of imposters busted

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 19

The police today claimed to have busted a gang of imposters who duped people by posing as sleuths of Crime Investigating Agency (CIA), Special Task Force (STF) and Narcotics Cell. The police have arrested six members of the gang.

Those arrested have been identified as Jaswant Singh of Nolri village, near Khanna; Dalwinder Singh, alias Lali, of Bilga village; Jagpreet Singh, alias Money, of Khanpur in Sangrur; Surinder Singh of Baluo; Ranjit Singh of Lal Bagh, near Rajguru Nagar; and Jagpreet’s wife. Another member of the gang, named Nikka, is yet to be arrested, the police said.

Two cars, two bikes carrying the same number, one country made pistol, one sharp weapon, one toy pistol and two police uniforms have been recovered from them. The accused used to extort money form their victims by threatening them with implication in false cases, said the police.

DCP (Investigation) Gaganajit Singh said the accused were arrested from a vacant plot in Sangowal village while they were planning a robbery.

A case under Section 399, 402 and 171 of the IPC and 25/27/54/59 of the Arms Act has been registered at the Sadar police station against them.

The accused, Dalwinder has been booked in 13 cases, including those of cheating, theft and drug peddling. Besides, Jaswant has been booked in different cases of snatching and the Excise Act.

The police said Jaswant used to pose as a constable and tell the victims that the police had got information that they kept ‘chitta’ (drug) at their home. He also used to offer a ‘settlement’ with the ASI (another imposter from the gang), the police said.

The arrested members also extorted money from lottery stall owners and scrap dealers.