The cyber cell of Sikkim police arrested two Nigerians from Delhi on March 26 for allegedly duping a resident of Gangtok of Rs 82 lakh through online transaction.

John Obilor and Charles Chisvoki Nwanyan were arrested from Noida adjoining Delhi and booked under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the IT Act. They have been taken to Gangtok where they are presently in police custody.

Tenzing Loden Lepcha, the superintendent of police of the CID, told reporters in Gangtok that the accused had duped a Gangtok resident of Rs 82 lakh in 2019 by fraudulently promising huge returns on online business. “Both have records of indulging in such duplicity in Uttarakhand and Bihar as well.”

“We have seized 14 mobile phones, a laptop, seven debit cards, passports of Myanmar, the Republic of New Guinea and the United States and Indian Aadhaar cards and driving licences from them,” added the SP.

Spring of protest

Picture by Amarnath Dutta

Pranita Sinha, 70, a Visva-Bharati alumnus and member of the women’s socio-cultural outfit in Santiniketan, Alapini Mahila Samity, on Tuesday danced to a Rabindranath Tagore’s song celebrating spring — but on a rebellious note.

Over a dozen members of the samity, mostly senior citizens, on Tuesday observed Basanta Utsav — the traditional festival of spring started by Tagore in the university town — along a road on Visva-Bharati campus to protest against the varsity’s steps to stop many traditional events that would connect the people of Santiniketan with Tagore’s varsity since the latter came up.

Aparna Das, 86, president of Alapini Mahila Samity, said the event was organised to protest against the varsity and its vice-chancellor Bidyut Chakraborty’s attempt to cut off the institution from Santiniketan residents.

Sources said the varsity had organised a programme similar to Basanta Utsav earlier this month, but in a hush-hush manner, without any formal

intimation to anyone. As the varsity did not organise any public celebration of the festival of spring, the Trinamul organised a Holi event on Sunday in the manner celebrated by the varsity over the years.

Last year, the varsity did not organise the traditional festival of colour because of the pandemic.

Report by Snehamoy Chakraborty,