Islamabad, May 5: Hundreds of people in this south Kashmir district have been duped of lakhs of rupees by an impersonator posing to be the junior engineer in the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). The said person has taken huge sums of money from the locals in lieu of erection of mobile towers on their land.
 Despite repeated complaints, police as well as the BSNL authorities have failed to act against the accused as, according to sources, he happens to be hand in glove with some local politicians.
 “Altaf Ahmad Mir son of Gul Muhammad Mir of Bulbul Nowgam, Islamabad posing as a JE from BSNL has been from last three years luring the people on the pretext of erecting mobile towers on their land and in turn demanding Rs 1 lakh as gratification charges from each land-owner,” sources said and added that the person is carries a BSNL identity card and a stamp with the designation of JE BSNL.
 “Some lawyers are also working hand in glove with him and with their help he manages to acquire fraud affidavits of lease agreements,” sources said adding that the accused even forges the signatures of Divisional Engineer (DE) and Sub divisional Engineer (SDE) of BSNL.
 An affected landowner told Greater Kashmir that the said person even takes the account numbers from the people and assures them that the rent of their land taken for the tower would be deposited by the BSNL in their account at the rate of Rs 6000 per month and one person in the family would also get the job of a helper to run the tower. “As the person has the backing of some local politicians and has involved some prominent people in the dubious business. So, the complaints against him always fall on deaf ears,” rued a local.
 According to sources, even some BSNL officials are involved in this cheating business alongwith the said person. “The person has reportedly received money from at least 150 people across the valley,” sources said.
 Some of the affected include; Abdul Rehman Ahangar of Kapran, Verinag; Fayaz Ahmad of Bumdora, Doru; Shakeel Ahmad Mir of Awgam, Kulgam; Aijaz Ahmad Parray of Mutalhama, Kulgam; Muhammad Yousuf Wani of Wanihama, Dialgam; Javaid Ahmad, a police person from Budgam; Muhammad Yousuf of Chanpora, Srinagar; Ghulam Hassan Naiko of Pushkreedi, Pahalgam; Aijaz Ahmad of Tangloo, Qazigund; Muhammad Arif Gani of Tangyan, Yaripora; Sajad Ahmad of Sagam, Kokernag; Mubarak Ahmad of Tangwani, Kokernag; Ghulam Nabi Lone of Nowbugh,Kokernag; Aijaz 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 Sofshali, Kokernag.
 When contacted General Manager, BSNL Kashmir Jagdish Kumar while assuring a thorough probe into the matter said; “Let people come forward with a complaint and I assure of initiating a proper investigation.”
 SSP, Islamabad, Showkat Ahmad Malik also asked the people to come forward with complaint and assured that police will initiate an enquiry into the matter.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 5 May 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 5 May 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 6 May 2010 00:00:00 IST