Ropar Police has arrested five persons for their alleged involvement in a state wide Army recruitment scam...

CHANDIGARH, JANUARY 19: In a major breakthrough, Ropar Police has arrested five persons for their alleged involvement in a state wide Army recruitment scam. Disclosing this here today, the official spokesperson disclosed that the Police has recovered 29 Aadhar cards, fake documents sets of 48 individuals, and Rs  8 lakh from their possession. Sixty eight attestation and official stamps were also recovered.

These stamps are of different official designations like those of SHOs, Tehsildars, Municipal Councilors etc. In the last five years, this gang has secured recruitment of 26 individuals in the Sikh, J&K and Artillery regiments by preparing fake caste and residential proof certificates. They used to charge Rs 3-5 lacs from every individual for the recruitment process.

Clerks of the Army recruiting centers in Patiala, Ferozpur and Ludhiana were hand in glove with these perpetrators, who, after taking their cut, verified the fake documents, the spokesperson added. Initial investigations reveal that Yogesh of Salem Tabri, Ludhiana is the kingpin of this gang, which has, in the last five years, prepared fake documents of nearly 150 individuals hailing from Haryana.

Aspirants from Haryana were roped in by Manjeet and Sunil of Jind as there is less competition in Army recruitment in Punjab. Both Manjeet and Sunil, who run a Army recruitment training academy in Jind, have also been arrested. Similarly, Manoj and Amit of Ferozpur used to provide recruits to Yogesh from the districts of Fazilka, Moga, Faridkot and Ferozpur.

Names of several Non- Commissioned Officers (NCOs) posted in Ludhiana, Gwalior, Ferozpur and Bhuvneshwar have figured in the questioning of the suspects. These NCOs used to be a link between the recruiting authorities and the aspirants willing to join the Army.