24-year-old conman held,admits to targeting tourists

According to government railway police (GRP) officials,the accused Vinay Kumar has confessed to stealing on multiple occasions.

Police officials said that they zeroed in on him after a British couple lodged a complaint last month on January 26.

The couple alleged that their bags were stolen from the railway station at Kalka,where they had gotten off the train to take photographs. The accused stole Rs 90,000,a ladies bag and a camera from them.

Based on the complaint,the GRP prepared a sketch of the accused resulting with his arrest on Sunday.

Police officials said Vinay Kumar had adopted a novel modus operandi to loot tourists. A BA graduate who knows English,Kumar would ride in AC coaches and talk to tourists to win their confidence,and then steal when the opportunity arose. He would then get down at some platform to evade arrest and suspicion.

Police said that on January 13 the accused had also duped foreigners in Himachal Pradesh after giving them sleeping pills.

During the questioning,officials said the accused has admitted to committing five thefts and had been indulging in the practice for the last two years. The police is identifying locations in Ludhiana where he would store the stolen items.

“Kalka station remains a very busy station. There are at least five-six trains that stop at the station daily,not just from Delhi,but even from Kolkata and Mumbai. However the accused would rob only foreigners and not local passengers,and in some cases he would give them sleeping pills with the food,” said an official.

The official also added that the accused had also been traveling in a toy train from Kalka to Himachal and has admitted to instances of thieving in the neighboring state as well.

Panchkula residents campaign to have hoardings of councillors removed

Panchkula residents have sought the removal of hoardings of municipal councillors hoisted at different places,saying that the hoardings are misleading,as the Panchkula Municipal Council has been dissolved and now the Municipal Corporation is in existence.

The members of the action committee of Citizens Welfare Association (CWA) on Monday urged the Haryana government to take immediate steps to remove the display boards,stating that the boards displaying the pictures of councillors have been “erected illegally’’ and since now,the corporation exists instead of the council,‘’they were misleading and misguiding the public.”

The Corporation governs a larger population and area than the council. Right now,the Panchkula Municipal Council has been changed to the Corporation and includes areas of Kalka and Pinjore as well.

“The government has initiated the election process for the Corporation and the jurisdiction of the wards has also changed due to which there is a need to remove these hoardings,” said S K Nayar,president of Panchkula CWA.

“The Haryana government has already started the process for delimitation of the wards of the corporation and final notification is being issued. In view of this there is no requirement of boards displaying the names of councilors,” Nayar added.