Dhubri police have uncovered a massive scam that exploited thousands of women under the guise of the “Support India Development Program” in the Halghora region near Dhubri town. The fraudulent operation, which began in January, ran as a deceptive chain business, preying on vulnerable women.
The mastermind behind the scam, Akram Hussain Laskar, 31, hailing from Kuleswar, Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, was arrested. Laskar, who falsely identified himself as the local branch manager, was apprehended by a police team led by Sub-Inspector Nilim Talukdar. He faces charges for orchestrating the fraudulent activities.
Investigation revealed that Laskar operated from a rented house under the Dhubri Police BN College Town Outpost. He lured women into the scam by offering household goods in exchange for payments of Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000. Victims were required to fill out membership forms and were subsequently enlisted into a chain-recruitment system that sustained the fraud.
During the police raid, Laskar was unable to present any legitimate documentation for the scheme, and investigators found that all transactions were conducted in cash. Authorities seized over Rs 2 lakh in cash from his office.
The scam enticed agents with promises of earning Rs 100 for each new member they recruited. Participants were also assured Rs 400 upon completing 40 necklaces made from pearl-like beads, in a scheme that seemed to offer easy income. More than 3,000 women from the region were drawn into the trap, hoping for financial relief.
As complaints accumulated, authorities began to investigate the operation, which ultimately led to Laskar’s arrest. Another key figure, Rashidul Rahman, who allegedly played a significant role in convincing women to join the program, remains at large. Victims who gathered at Dhubri Sadar Police Station on Sunday identified Rahman as the man who recruited many of the participants.
