Bhubaneswar: While the coronavirus-induced lockdown is unleashing miseries for thousands of migrant workers, for some it has come as an opportunity to dupe innocent people especially the migrants.
Such an instance has come to fore where a conman tried to defraud an Odia migrant stranded in Coimbatore (now Koyampuththoor) using the name of Ollywood actor Sabyasachi Mishra, who has been actively extending a helping hand to hundreds of Odia migrants stranded in different parts of the country.
According to sources, the conman contacted the Odia migrant and assured help to bring him back to Odisha from Coimbatore. He asked the migrant to deposit Rs 6,500 as food and travel expenses. However, the migrant grew suspicious over the conversation of the accused person and contacted the actor.
Informed about the incident, actor Sabyasachi in turn contacted Bhubaneswar deputy commissioner of police (DCP). Later after a probe following the intervention of the DCP, Coimbatore police apprehended the accused.
“The conmen are targeting the vulnerable people and those who are seeking help through social media to return home. The accused claimed that I have asked him to contact the migrant but it was false,” Sabyasachi told OTV.
According to the actor, the accused reportedly told the migrant that Rs 6,500 is charged for providing food during the travel and assured to refund the money once he reaches Odisha.
“Once you reach Odisha and complete the institutional quarantine period, the amount will be refunded to you by the concerned sarpanch,” Sabyasachi told OTV quoting the conman.
(Edited by Suryakant Jena)
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