Gang of ‘fraudsters’ busted

Complainant says she was robbed through fraudulent marriage

CHAK JHUMRA:

Police claimed to have arrested a man who was allegedly part of a gang of four people involved in defrauding people by arranging fake marriages.

Neelam Bibi lodged a complaint with the police in which she stated that accused Nasira Bibi had fraudulently gotten her married to one Sarfraz hiding the fact that he had already been married before.

The motive behind contracting the marriage was to steal the dowry that the victim brought with her to her husband’s house.

Sarfraz was arrested by police while a case had been registered against four other people.

It was alleged by the complainant that accused Nasira Bibi, Sarfraz and several other people had formed a group which preyed on unsuspecting people, deceiving them into marrying their daughters to the fraudsters who stole the dowry the victims brought with them.

The women police registered a case against the named accused under the provisions of 420 TPP and started raids for their arrest.

In February 2020, police had arrested 10 members of a gang, including three women, involved in defrauding people after enticing them to marry young girls.

They were caught red-handed by police after a raid on a hotel in Harappa, while a woman managed to flee by dodging a police constable.

The suspects included gang leader Ashiq, Lal Khan, Raza Kathia, Ali Raza, Shahbaz, Mani Zahra, Sonia Pathani, Meraj Bibi and Jamila Bibi.

Harappa Police Station SHO Abid Bhala said the gang was also involved in prostitution. The suspects targeted villagers and citizens who were facing difficulties in choosing a life partner or wanted to marry the second or third time.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 13^th, 2022.