The sleuths of South East Central Railway Protection Force (RPF) have conducted raids at three places under operation storm and caught three agents involved in e-ticket touting. The raids were conducted in Mankapur and nearby areas. Train tickets worth over ₹64000 were recovered from them along with other items like computers, mobile phones etc. The total value of seizure is estimated to be around ₹9.5 lakh.
Raids were conducted under the supervision of divisional security commandant Avinash Pandey. In Nagpur division, the action was initiated at 12 places wherein e-tickets of ₹14,80,884 were seized. Along with material worth, ₹19,72,783 was also confiscated for use in the crime.
The RPF’s Kamptee Outpost raided one Vishal Chouragde (39), running the net cafe at Faras Square at Mankapur and 10 live tickets, 87 old tickets, one computer system, one printer, one mobile and cash of ₹1000 was seized from him.
In the second raid, RPF netted Sanjay Siria (43) having a shop at Muskan Holidays, Zingabai Takli. From him, one live ticket, 40 old tickets, one laptop, one mobile and cash of ₹3,000 was confiscated.
However, the biggest fish was caught in the third raid which took place on Larson Alfanso (24) at Hansvihar Apartment, Godhni. In a big surprise for the RPF sleuths, a large number of old and live train tickets were recovered. Sources said, 18 live tickets worth ₹38,205 and 491 old tickets valuing ₹5,00,000 along with one laptop and mobile was seized from him.
It is pertinent to note here that RPF has been conducting simultaneous raids across the country against e-ticket touting under operation storm. The drive was launched last year during the festive season and has been continuing since then.
Acting on various sources, a detailed analysis of booking pattern of railway reserved e-tickets was done by the Security Directorate, Railway Board. RPF examined minutely various modus operandi being used by touting element to procure and sell e-tickets unauthorisedly through Personal User Ids.
Accordingly, out of more than a total of 5 crore users, a list of most suspected personal user IDs was prepared at Railway Board, New Delhi. This congenial list of suspected users were, then shared with Zonal Heads of RPF (IG-cum-PCSCs) through a secret communication to maintain the element of surprise in the entire operation (Code Name – Operation Storm).
Detailed instructions of the Director General/RPF were also conveyed regarding thorough verification of credentials & activities of all suspects at ground level well in advance of the proposed raid.
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