Assam Police Arrest Two in Job Fraud Scheme Targeting Aspirants

In a major crackdown on job fraud in Assam, state police arrested two individuals, Shamim Ahmed and Nabajit Barman, for allegedly defrauding job seekers by promising them government jobs in exchange for hefty payments. The accused were operating a fraudulent recruitment scheme, mainly targeting specially-abled individuals, under the pretense of helping them secure government positions.

The Job Fraud Scheme: How It Operated?

According to police reports, Ahmed and Barman collected Rs 3-4 lakh per victim, falsely claiming they could facilitate government job placements. They allegedly operated a forum for specially-abled individuals, misleading them into believing they had insider connections to government recruitment processes.

The police had been tracking their activities for several days before making the arrests. The duo is currently being interrogated at Panbazar police station in Guwahati, and a case has been registered under various sections of the law related to fraud, cheating, and criminal conspiracy.

Assam Government’s Stand on Transparent Recruitment

Following the arrests, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to ensuring a transparent recruitment process. He highlighted the merit-based selection system adopted by the government to eliminate any scope for fraud.

The Assam government has implemented several measures to ensure fair and corruption-free recruitment, including:

• Digital recruitment platforms to prevent manual interference and corruption.
• Strict monitoring of hiring procedures to prevent fraudulent practices.
• Public awareness campaigns to educate job seekers about employment scams.

Rising Cases of Job Fraud in Assam

This incident is not an isolated one. Over the years, Assam has witnessed multiple job scams, where fraudsters have exploited the desperation of job seekers by promising them lucrative government jobs in exchange for money.

Some of the recent job fraud cases in Assam include:

• Fake appointment letters issued to candidates for government jobs.
• Bogus employment agencies charging fees for non-existent jobs.
• Fraudsters impersonating government officials and promising recruitment in return for bribes.

Due to the high demand for government jobs in Assam, many aspirants fall prey to these scams, losing both their money and their hopes of securing employment.

Legal Actions Against Job Fraud in Assam

The arrested individuals, Shamim Ahmed and Nabajit Barman, will be prosecuted under specific sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which deal with cheating, fraud, and criminal conspiracy in job scams.

1. Cheating and Dishonest Inducement (Section 316, BNS 2023)

• If a person deceives someone into delivering property or money under false promises (such as securing a job), they can be punished with imprisonment of up to 7 years and a fine.
• This section directly applies to fraudulent job agents who collect money from aspirants without any real job offer.

2. Criminal Breach of Trust (Section 317, BNS 2023)

• If a person entrusted with money or property misuses it, they can be punished with imprisonment of up to 3 years or a fine, or both.
• In the Assam job scam, the accused collected money from job seekers under false promises, making them liable under this section.

3. Forgery and Fake Documents (Section 339, BNS 2023)

• If an individual creates fake job appointment letters or recruitment documents, they can face imprisonment of up to 7 years and a fine.
• Many job scams involve fake appointment letters, making this a crucial provision in employment fraud cases.

4. Fraudulent Recruitment & False Representation (Section 356, BNS 2023)

• If a person falsely represents themselves as a government official or claims to have influence over job recruitment, they can be punished with up to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine.
• This is particularly applicable to the Assam job fraud case, as the accused pretended to have connections in government recruitment.

5. Criminal Conspiracy (Section 61, BNS 2023)

• If two or more people collaborate to commit a fraudulent act, they can be charged under criminal conspiracy and face the same punishment as the principal offense.
• Since two individuals were arrested in the Assam job fraud case, they will likely be charged under this section.

6. Public Awareness and Preventive Measures (Section 190, BNS 2023)

Any individual or agency involved in misleading advertisements about job opportunities can face legal action, including fines and imprisonment. monetary fines.

Assam Police’s Advisory for Job Seekers

In light of rising employment fraud cases in Assam, police have issued advisory guidelines to help job seekers avoid falling victim to scams:

• Verify all job offers by checking official government websites and recruitment notifications.
• Avoid paying money to agents or middlemen for government job placements.
• Report any suspicious recruitment advertisements to the police.
• Seek employment assistance from official job portals rather than private agents.
• Stay updated on official recruitment notifications published by government agencies.

Steps Taken by the Assam Government to Curb Employment Frauds

The Assam government has taken various steps to prevent fraudulent activities in the recruitment sector. Some key initiatives include:

1. Centralized Recruitment System: The government has introduced a single, transparent recruitment portal to manage public sector job applications.
2. Strict Background Checks: All government job applicants undergo rigorous verification before final selection.
3. Legal Crackdown on Fake Recruitment Agencies: Several fake employment agencies have been shut down in recent years to protect job seekers from fraud.
4. Public Awareness Campaigns: The state government has launched campaigns through newspapers, social media, and TV ads to warn aspirants about fraudulent job offers.

The recent arrests of Shamim Ahmed and Nabajit Barman highlight the Assam Police’s proactive efforts to combat job fraud in the state. With a strict crackdown on fraudulent recruitment schemes, the government aims to protect job seekers from financial and emotional distress.