Job fraud: Gang run by man posing as NIA officer busted

New Delhi: A chance interception of a Jammu and Kashmir-registered vehicle behind Red Fort on Wednesday led police to bust an alleged interstate job racket run by a man from Pulwama, who was arrested.Two people were inside the vehicle — 36-year-old Mudassar Ahmed Mir and a 16-year-old boy. Mudassar, who moved around in the J&K-registered vehicle, carried himself with the confidence of a senior official and produced documents claiming he was an officer of NIA.However, a scrutiny revealed glaring inconsistencies, and his credentials were found to be forged. Given that he had posed as an officer of the premier anti-terror agency, the matter raised security concerns. A joint interrogation by Delhi Police's special cell and the Intelligence Bureau was done to rule out any national security implications.To verify his antecedents, joint commissioner of police Madhur Verma formed a team under the supervision of DCP (north) Raja Banthia. Investigators traced his background to the Valley. Local authorities were alerted. Officials said no terror link was found.Instead, the probe uncovered a fraud targeting vulnerable youths. Police said Mudassar exploited the aspirations of Kashmiri youngsters seeking govt jobs. Posing as an NIA officer, he allegedly promised to secure employment in agencies such as the NIA and Delhi Police for a bribe.During questioning, it emerged that the 16-year-old boy's father, a mason, had suffered a paralytic attack following a workplace accident a few months ago, leaving the family without a steady income. Mudassar, an acquaintance, allegedly lured the boy to Delhi with the promise of a job for a payment of Rs 3,000, with Rs 10,000 to be paid after confirmation.The duo left Kashmir on Feb 12 and reached Delhi the following day, where they checked into a guest house near Jama Masjid. Mudassar's cousin was also in the capital in search of employment.On Feb 14, Mudassar met a man who runs an NGO to seek help in arranging jobs for his cousin and the boy. He contacted the NGO operator through two intermediaries, one of whom claimed to be associated with the NIA. But during the meeting, the NGO representative expressed inability to arrange for any employment.As efforts to secure assistance did not materialise and no job offer came through, Mudassar's cousin returned to Kashmir. The boy was also preparing to leave for home when police intervened.