A Rajasthan resident has been arrested for allegedly cheating a number of Siliguri residents over Rs 1 crore while promising them earning opportunity by making “velvet pencils”.
Velvet pencils are made from the scrap of recycled plastic and are used for drawing.
According to police sources, a case was registered at the Siliguri police station on July 9 against a firm of conning various residents of Siliguri and surrounding areas. “The representatives of the company had promised these residents that they would help them in setting velvet pencil making units and collected money from them. However, instead of meeting the promise, Hemant Sharma, the principal accused and some others, fled with around Rs 1.50 crore which they had collected from people,” said a police officer.
The police finally managed to trace Sharma in Jaipur of Rajasthan on October 4.
“Our team arrested Sharma and produced him in a local court in Jaipur. The court then ordered a transit remand for seven days. On Thursday, the team reached Siliguri with the prime accused. We will interrogate him to know about his accomplices and the money,” the officer added.
In another incident, the Border Security Force (BSF) posted at the India-Bangladesh border in Pathanpara of Jalpaiguri district intercepted two suspected Indian smugglers from near the border on Thursday.
Sources said one kilo of cannabis and a two-wheeler were seized from Parimal Roy and Bishu Roy. The duo are residents of Manikganj in Jalpaiguri. Both have been handed over to the police.
Timber seizure
The foresters of Sarugarah range under Baikunthapur forest division has seized teak logs worth around Rs 20 lakh from Fulbari, located on the southern end of Siliguri.
The foresters said they searched a truck loaded with old furniture and found the logs concealed beneath the furniture. “The illegal timber was loaded in the vehicle somewhere in Arunachal Pradesh and it was on its way to Bihar. The truck driver managed to escape before the raid. We are in search of him,” said a forest officer.
