Assam police arrest 33 in fraud, extortion racket around police stations under Boko-Chaygaon co-district area

As many as 33 people have been arrested in a major crackdown on an alleged organised racket involved in cheating and extorting money from members of the public around police stations and police outposts under the Boko–Chhaygaon Co-District area of Assam’s Kamrup district.

According to Boko–Chhaygaon Co-District Superintendent of Police Jankishore Gogoi, the arrests were made from different police stations and outposts following an investigation and departmental intelligence gathering into the activities of the alleged network.

Of the 33 arrested, 13 were apprehended under Nagarbera Police Station, 10 under Goroimari Police Station, four from Sonatoli Police Outpost, one from Chhaygaon Police Station, four from Mandira Police Outpost and one from Samaria Police Outpost.

The investigation reportedly found that the alleged racket had established a network around police station premises, where its members allegedly approached distressed members of the public before they could reach authorised police personnel. The accused allegedly offered to facilitate assistance and other services in exchange for money.

Police are interrogating all 33 arrested persons and are conducting further investigations to identify additional petition writers, associates and other individuals allegedly connected with the network. Investigators are also examining financial transactions suspected to be linked to the alleged racket.

Police have appealed to members of the public to avoid financial dealings with touts, middlemen or other unauthorised persons operating around police stations. Those who have allegedly been cheated or harassed by such individuals have been advised to approach senior police officers directly.

The crackdown is aimed at dismantling the alleged network and preventing members of the public from being exploited while seeking legitimate assistance from law-enforcement authorities.