It’s common enough for night owls to be confronted by cops on duty. But now, youngsters are faced with a new problem — fake policemen! Those without uniform claim to be plainclothesmen in mufti while others go to the extent of getting khakis and even fake ID cards. Among the recent exploits of these conmen, are theft of vehicles and jewellery and extortion.

One such ‘cop’, 23-year-old Mahesh Gowda was apprehended recently. Mahesh and his associates used to flag down vehicles citing traffic rule violations. Masquerading as Central Crime Branch constables, they got into the vehicle, left the driver on the outskirts of the city and drove away. In fact, one incident took place right in front of RT Nagar Traffic Police Station.

The sheer audacity of these men is shocking, as they con people in broad daylight too. Two women, Anasuya and Padmaja learned that the hard way when two men claiming to be policemen in mufti made away with their jewellery worth Rs 3 lakh. The ‘cops’ approached them as they were leaving a marriage hall and asked them to remove their jewellery and put in in a bag there had been a robbery in the area. By the time the women realised their mistake, it was too late.

Other cases include that of pick-up boy Sampath Kumar, who was picked up by two ‘policemen’ on the pretext of an enquiry and forced into a vehicle. The men then robbed him of his mobile and Rs 1,000 cash.

Software professionals seem to be a soft target for these conmen. As engineer Tinu Cherian points out, “Most employees in software firms are from other parts of the country, so they don’t live here with their families, nor do they speak the local language. Also, people have the misconception that all techies are rich so naturally we are a soft target.” After more than one or two such incidents happened to his colleagues who were returning home late at night, the company issued instructions to all employees, informing them about the modus operandi of these conmen. “Now, we all have stored the numbers of our company security officers as well as the Cheetah police on night patrol,” he says, adding, “In India, we don’t question the police. I am afraid to ask a cop for identification because I don’t know how he will react. But with such incidents taking place, we need to know the real ones from the fakes.”

“Often, the victims are under the impression that they are on the wrong side of the law,” points out independent filmmaker Hrish Thota, whose colleagues were harassed by a ‘cop’ who claimed that they were driving rashly.

But, it is women who need to be most cautious. Says student Keerthi C, “My friend and I were walking home after a late dinner when we were pulled up by a ‘cop’ in plain clothes. We saw him ‘patrolling’ the area and talking to other traffic cops, so we believed he was one of them. Only after he divested us of Rs 250 did we find out he was a conman. We were lucky he didn’t harm us.”

Article by Tenzin Dechen , Deccan Chronicle 30June2010
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