Puttur: Man takes seven for a ride with promises of jobs in Afghanistan

Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Jun 29: Puttur Taluk Human Rights and Anti-corruption Association has filed a complaint in the local police station against a person named Sangeet Kumar from Mukrumpady in the taluk. Kumar had reportedly defrauded seven unemployed persons by promising jobs to them at the American military base in Afghanistan, and collecting Rs 1.5 lac from each of these persons.

The victims of this fraud, Vishwanath Gowda from Narimogaru, Abdul Riaz from Punjalakatte, Pravin Raj from Kuppepadavu, Jayaram from Sullia, Adarsh from Kundapur, as well as Gopi and Sajit from Kasargod, had approached the said association with their complaints. They were lured by a newspaper advertisement released by Sangeet Kumar about the job opportunities abroad.

It is learnt that some of these candidates had raised loans, sold gold ornaments, and went through lot of difficulties to arrange for the above payment.

It is gathered that Sangeet Kumar sent them to Dubai on visitors’ visa for two months, arranged for their stay in a house there, and convinced them to return to their homes thereafter by claiming that it was impossible to go to Afghanistan then because of the disturbances there. He had made all of them to believe that he would arrange for jobs as promised. They said they have neither jobs nor money now. The defrauded people also said that Kumar’s office is always found locked, and his cell phone is switched off.

During police questioning, it is learnt that Kumar has confessed to his guilt. It is not yet certain as whether those who got deceived and defrauded would be able to get their money back. It is surprising that the youth from the coastal belt have been falling to the lure of job opportunities held out by unscrupulous persons frequently, even after knowing that hundreds of unemployed youth have lost money and peace of mind because of such rackets in the past.