Police nab kingpins in counterfeit racket

Aizawl, Jan 8(UNI) Two persons were arrested on charges of circulation of counterfeit money in Aizawl yesterday.

Bawngkawn police sources today said that earlier five persons had been arrested in this connection. ''While the five of them have been sent to judicial custody, the two persons were being held in police custody for further interrogation,'' the Bawngkawn police OC said.

Local vigilante had seized counterfeit money of Rs 3,000 from one Malsawmdawngkimi of Ramhlun South locality here on Janaury 3 and arrested her accomplice Lilymawii on the same day.

Acting on an FIR lodged by the local vigilante, three others were arrested by the police on January 4. The police managed to arrest the two persons M C Lalbuaia and Zodinpuii on Monday.

While Lalbuaia had confessed that he had received counterfeit notes of the denomination of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500, worth Rs one lakh from Zodinpuii, the latter had refused to speak, the police sources said.

Meanwhile, Lalremruata, one of the accused, also confessed to having received fake notes worth Rs 3,00,000 from Lalbuaia to be circulated. According to their confession, they mostly used the fake notes for buying from Border Road Task Force, security forces and local dealers. Police said the counterfeit money were easily detectable.

Investigation is on to trace the source of the fake notes.

UNI ZS LL DB1630