On 14th February 2019, Kashmir’s Pulwama district witnessed a horrific terror attack orchestrated by the group Jaish-e-Mohammed. At least 40 CRPF soldiers lost their lives to the suicide bombing; following which state governments announced compensation for the families of the deceased jawans.
Unfortunately, a conman took advantage of this situation and duped martyr Kulwinder Singh’s parents of Rs. 1.5 lakh. He convinced them to part with their money saying that they were to receive Rs. 29 lakh compensation and a fuel station.
According to Indian Express, the accused went to the victims Darshan Singh and Amrit Kaur in Rauli village, Ropar district on 2nd May. Darshan Singh filed a police complaint against the man explaining,
“The man was dressed in CRPF uniform having one star on his shoulders. He introduced himself as an ASI A L Meenu of 92nd battalion of CRPF. He was carrying plenty of forms and told me that CRPF decided to give us Rs 29 lakh and one fuel station. He said to get Rs 29 lakh in our account, we will have to withdraw and transfer the cash already in our account. I agreed.”
Initially, the accused tried to get hold of Rs. 20 lakh from their SBI account but bank officials refused to process the large amount.
“Finally, he encashed Rs 1.50 lakh by making three vouchers of Rs 50,000 each.”
Then he took Darshan Singh to court to prepare affidavits. Later, he asked to borrow his phone and motorcycle so that he could get the wife from SBI bank. But he did not return. Punjab police have located the bike and recovered CCTV footage of the accused. Hopefully, he’ll be apprehended soon.
This isn’t the first time such a case has been brought to light. Earlier in Madhya Pradesh, a conman cheated the widow of deceased CRPF jawan Om Prakash Mardania of Rs. 8.5 lakh. It truly is shameful that people are taking advantage of grieving families in their vulnerable state.