Assam: Impostor posing as Officer-in-Charge targets Dhubri vendors with extortion threats

Panic spread among small vendors in Dhubri town on Monday, August 31, after an unidentified person allegedly impersonated a police officer and threatened shopkeepers with legal action unless they paid money, local sources said.

The caller allegedly used mobile number +91-8876842510 and identified himself as Anup Saikia, falsely claiming to be the newly appointed Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Dhubri Sadar Police Station.

Among those targeted was Manoj Kumar Roy, who runs a small pan shop near the State Bank of India branch in Ward No. 1. According to Roy, the caller accused him of illegally selling cannabis from his shop and threatened to arrest and imprison him unless he paid Rs 3,000 through an online QR code to settle the matter.

A similar call was reportedly made from the same number to Pritam Saha, a small vendor operating in the Chowk Bazar area, on Sunday evening. Saha was allegedly subjected to similar accusations and demands for money.

The calls triggered panic among vendors, with several shopkeepers reportedly concerned about possible police action. Local vendor associations subsequently began verifying the caller's identity and alerted other traders about the alleged fraud.

Trade groups have urged vendors not to transfer money or comply with demands made by unidentified callers claiming to be police officials.

A probe is expected to be launched to identify the person allegedly impersonating the police officer and determine whether others were targeted in the suspected extortion attempt.