12 persons arrested with fake currency in Ganderbal

GANDERBAL — Ganderbal Police on Thursday evening arrested 12 persons in a ‘rice-pulling machine scam’ and recovered fake currency and seized five vehicles in Kangan area of the district.

A spokesman in a statement to Srinagar-based news agency KDC said, “Police Station Kangan received information through reliable sources that at Kijpara near Dumping Park, some suspicious movement of persons was observed.”

“Acting promptly, the Police party of Police Station Kangan raided the spot and apprehended 12 persons who were roaming in suspicious condition and during searches, police recovered 30 bundles of 50,000 each with a total of 15,00,000 worth of fake currency (Children’s bank) notes and total cash of Rs 56,600 (Indian currency).

“As per the preliminary enquiry, they were doing some dealing of ‘rice puller’ (Trathgola). Five vehicles were also seized,” he said.

The arrested were identified as Riyaz Ahmad Mir, son of Ghulam Ahmad Mir, resident of Kijpra Kangan; Ghulam Nabi Malik, son of Mohd Abdullah Malik, resident of Lari-Preng; Mohammad Zubair, son of Abdul Aziz Biran, resident of Baba Nagri Wangat; Arshid Ahmad Wani, son of Mohammad Akbar Wani, resident of Hajin Bandipora; Zahoor Ahmad Salroo, son of Mohammad Rafiq, resident of Bungam Shopian; Abass Ahmad Sofi, son of Abdul Salam Sofi, resident of Bongam Shopian.

Bilal Ahmad Sofi, son of Abdul Salam, resident of Bunpora Shopian; Fairooz Ahmad Thakur, son of Ali Mohammad Thakur, resident of Keller Shopian; Raja Rameez, son of Abdul Rashid Shah, resident of Kulgam; Ishfaq Ahmad Wani, son of Mohammad Akbar Wani, resident of Hajin Bandipora; Zubair Ahmad Bijran, son of Ghulam Hassan Bijran, resident of Poshkar and Khursheed Ahmad Mir, son of Fayaz Ahmad Mir, resident of Kijpara were also among those arrested by the police.

Accordingly, an FIR No. 8 of 2024 under relevant sections of law was registered in Police Station Kangan and further investigation was set into motion.

Citizens of Ganderbal have thanked SSP Ganderbal Sandeep Gupta (IPS), DSP Kangan and SHO Kangan for acting swiftly in this matter.

Meanwhile, the general public has been requested not to fall into any such traps and to inform the concerned police station about any such incident immediately. “We assure the community members that Ganderbal Police will act tough against the criminals as per law.”