City cop busts gang of counterfeit certificate producers

In a strange incident, city cops busted a gang involved in producing counterfeit certificates for those who would use the same for dubious purposes. In a country with a population of over 1.2 billion where many are jobless despite being qualified enough there is also a certain section that makes their living and have made a fortune for themselves by forgery. Guwahati police got their cue to such a racket and apprehended two persons on 7th August last.   The police acted on a tip-off by complainant Abu Taller Md. Hussain, who lodged an FIR at Hatigaon police station on 5th August to the effect that some anti-social elements have been taking shelter in a rented house at Sanjog Path, Lakhminagar, Hatigaon in the city. The group has been preparing fake mark-sheets and certificates of various educational institutions, universities, boards, etc. for dubious purposes.   After getting the information, a team from Hatigaon police station began a course of investigation and searched the house from where the culprits operated. The police recovered some papers suspected to be forged Migration Certificates of the Nagaland Board of School Education, mark-sheets and NSLC (National School Leaving Certificate) Examination Certificate of Nagaland Board of School Education, some Memorandums of Understanding between educational institutions and North East Student's Association, NESA, etc. Following the tipoff Hatigaon police conducted a search operation in the office of the North East Student's Association (NESA), located at Naharom Path, in Hatigaon and recovered some incriminating documents and furniture as well. In the course of investigation, the police also apprehended two accused viz. Md. Rakibul Ali (19) and Manjur Hassan (24) of Barpeta. They are now in judicial custody.    During investigation it also came to light that the accused with the support of a few other anti-social elements prepare the forged documents and successfully enrol students in several technical institutions based outside Assam charging a handsome amount against the same. They also charge money from students and receive government grants from the institutions against the fake candidates.   “During the investigation so far it has been found that most students who have fallen prey to this trickery belong to the hill states. The duo has associated with several institutions based outside Assam and many of these are not acknowledged by the government either. The duo used to enrol such students to gain access to the government grants and scholarships and not for any educational purpose. Many of them attain such certificates only to get access to the government grants,” stated a senior police official adding, “There are around ten numbers of institutes that the two have been associated with. The exact figure has not been found and it is likely to increase.”   As informed by the police the duo had registered the North East Student's Association as an NGO earlier in 2016 and had influenced a few students from other north-eastern states. Although, so far only the two have been apprehended from Assam, there might well be others who are operating from other states of the region. However, it has been acknowledged by the police that no colleges, universities or students of Assam are associated with the accused. Meanwhile, a special investigation team has been constituted (SIT) in this regard under the leadership of ADCP (East), Guwahati for further investigation of the case as more details are expected to unfold as the case proceeds.    Earlier, in 2013 Mumbai police had found that over 700 people had obtained jobs using fake mark-sheets in the bogus HSC and SSC certificates scam running at two institutes.  Controversies marred the Centre as news reports in a section of media claimed that former minister of state in the human resource development ministry, Ram Shankar Katheria, had provided fake graduation mark-sheet. Highlights: City cops bust a duo indulging in producing counterfeit mark-sheets The duo registered themselves as an NGO called North East Student's Association (NESA) The police got a tipoff by Abu Taller Md. Hussain who lodged an FIR at Hatigaon PS to the effect that some anti-social elements have been taking shelter in a rented house at Hatigaon After searching the house police found several incriminating documents and apprehended Md. Rakibul Ali (19) and Manjur Hassan (24) It also came to light that the accused with the support of a few other anti-social elements prepared forged documents and enrolled students in several technical institutions based outside Assam The main motive of the tricksters was to get access to several government grants There are around ten institutes that the two have been associated with and there are chances that other institutions may surface Police acknowledged that no students or educational institutions of Assam are associated with the duo