Three incidents of duping people in the guise of police or officials of other enforcement agencies in quick successions this week have shocked the city police.
It all started with duping of a goldsmith of his gold and Rs. 30,000 on Tuesday night.
Dharani Sekaran (64) was intercepted by a tall-looking man on the busy Pacharisikkara Street at around 8.15 p.m. Claiming himself to be a policeman, he directed the aged man to his “superior officer” — another person — standing at some distance.
The duo started threatening the goldsmith stating that he looked like a ganja seller. Even before the man could react, the duo searched his bag took out over two sovereigns gold and Rs. 30,000. Asking him to come to the police station (even without saying which police station), they left and disappeared.
Even as the South Gate police was investigating, the second case was reported under the Vilakkuthoon police limits. Two employees of an oil store who were walking towards a bank were stopped by two strangers. After a few minutes of conversation and checking of the bag, the duo left. The workers later complained that Rs.2 lakh out of Rs.5.20 lakh was missing.
And this incident happened in broad daylight on the East Masi Street that always bustles with people.
Even as the police were perplexed, a north Indian businessman complained of being cheated of Rs.1.50 lakh by two persons who checked his suitcase on West Vadampokki Street at around 8.30 p.m.
Commissioner of Police Shailesh Kumar Yadav advised the residents to seek identity cards of people if they intercepted them in the guise of police or any other enforcement agency personnel.
“If they are fraudsters, they are sure to run away immediately. Otherwise, people can ask the strangers to take to them to nearest police station, before allowing them to lay hands on any valuables,” he said.
The simplest thing the people can do is to raise an alarm so that they attract passers-by to escape from fraudsters, another police officer added.
