Islamabad (Anantnag), Dec 13: Despite frequent complaints against a person posing as engineer in the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and fraudulently minting money from the people on the pretext of erecting mobile towers, the authorities have failed to act against him.
 Sources say that that the person gets away as he happens to be very close to some prominent politicians.
 “One Altaf Ahmad Mir S/O Gul Muhammad Mir of Bulbul Nowgam, Islamabad (Anantnag), has been luring people for last three years by presenting himself as a Junior Engineer (JE) in the BSNL. On the pretext of erecting mobile towers on their land, he demands Rs 1 lakh as gratification from each land owner,” sources in the department said.
 They said that the person carries fake identity card and stamp.
 “Some lawyers are also working hand in glove with him and with their help he manages to acquire fraud affidavits of lease agreement,” sources said adding that he even puts in fake signatures of Divisional Engineer (DE) and Sub-divisional Engineer (SDE) of BSNL.
 “When the people visit him for erecting towers he had promised, he resorts to dilly dally tactics and sometimes, to make people believe in his word, he goes for digging at a particular site and then leaves it mid way,” sources added.
 They further say that the person also takes bank account number from the people and assures them of depositing Rs 6000 as rent charges each month in their account and also a job of a helper to one of their family members.
 “As the person has the backing of some prominent politicians and has involved some prominent people in the nexus, so the complaints of the people are never heard,” sources said.
 They said that even some BSNL employees are also involved in this scam.
 Sources said the person has reportedly received money from at least 200 persons across the valley. Some of them include; Abdul Rehman Ahangar of Kapran, Verinag; Fayaz Ahmad of Bumdora, Doru; Shakeel Ahmad Mir of Awgam, Kulgam; Aejaz Ahmad Parray of Mutalhama, Kulgam; Muhammad Yousuf Wani of Wanihama, Dialgam; Javaid Ahmad, a policemen from Budgam; Muhammad Yousuf of Chadpora, Srinagar; Ghulam Hassan Naiko of Pushkreedi, Pahalgam; Aejaz Ahmad of Tangloo, Qazigund; Muhammad Arif Gani, Tangyan, Yaripora; Sajad Ahmad of Sagam, Kokernag; Mubarak Ahmad of Tangwani, Kokernag; Ghulam Nabi Lone of Nowbugh, Kokernag; Aejaz Ahmad of Vailoo, Kokernag; Ghulam Hassan Rather of Watnad, Kokernag; Abdul Majid of Shangus Nowgam; Muhammad Yousuf Dar of Malipora, Akhran; Ali Muhammad Rather of Rain Athar, Kokernag and Abdul Hamid Bulbul of Sof Shali, Kokernag.
 When contacted, Divisional Engineer, (DE), Islamabad (Anantnag), Sita Ram Sharma while informing that there was no employee with this name in their department, said, "The erecting of towers requires a set procedure and people, instead of falling into the trap of such persons, should directly contact the respective BSNL offices."
 Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Bashir Ahmad Khan, assured of looking into the matter. "Let the victims come up with a complaint, we will definitely investigate the matter," he said.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 13 Dec 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 13 Dec 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 14 Dec 2010 00:00:00 IST