Motihari/Patna: Police in Bihar have busted a gang accused of cheating scores of job-seekers by selling fake training kits under the guise of employment schemes. In an eight-hour raid on Saturday at a house in Chhota Bariyarpur village, Motihari, officers rescued more than 100 youths, at least 90 of whom were victims of fraud.
Eleven suspects were arrested, while the alleged mastermind, Emul Haque, remains at large. The gang is accused of luring mostly poor but educated young men through social media, charging up to Rs 25,000 for a so-called “training kit” that contained a pant cloth, two ties, energy pills and other items worth barely Rs 1,000.
SP Swarn Prabhat said the raid followed secret intelligence received by Chhatauni police station in-charge Sunil Kumar. A special team, led by Sadar DSP Dilip Singh, found that the gang had rented an entire building, housing more than 100 youths crammed into small rooms, where they were forced to sell the kits to sustain their stay. Victims said they were also charged separately for food and lodging.
“Only five victims had come forward to give us full details,” DSP Singh said. “On that basis, we investigated and rescued the others, who were being cheated in the name of Otamix Company.”
The police also seized a list containing names and contacts of youths targeted across states. Several of the arrested accused were themselves trainees who had begun to learn and teach fraudulent methods. Officials are now arranging to send the rescued youths home and have warned them to remain cautious of such rackets.
According to investigators, Haque has previously been linked to cyber fraud cases in Raxaul, where a similar racket involving 300 youths was exposed. “This gang exploits the desperation of unemployed youth,” SP Prabhat said. “Awareness is vital so that more young people do not fall prey.”
The police have promised further action against those connected to the network, while searches continue for Haque, described as the key operator of the scheme.
