Police Action Against Counterfeit Currency Racket in Lakhimpur
Police Shooting Incident Involving Counterfeit Currency Traders
Seized counterfeit currency and devices used in an alleged racket across Lakhimpur (Photo: AT)
North Lakhimpur, July 11: In a recent incident in Assam's Lakhimpur district, two individuals suspected of trading counterfeit currency sustained injuries due to police gunfire after they reportedly tried to escape custody while leading officers to a location believed to contain fake currency notes.
The event unfolded near Laluk when the suspects, identified as Matibur Rahman and Maksidul Alam, were with a police team aiming to recover additional counterfeit notes hidden in a residence in the vicinity.
According to Gunendra Deka, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) for Lakhimpur, the pair attempted to flee during a bathroom break amid the operation.
“Despite being warned, the suspects continued to run, prompting police to fire at their legs,” Deka informed reporters on Friday.
The injured individuals were first taken to Laluk Model Hospital before being transferred to Lakhimpur Medical College and Hospital for further treatment.
Matibur and Maksidul were part of a group of ten arrested by Lakhimpur Police on July 7 in the Bangalmora area, which has a notorious reputation for counterfeit currency and fake gold operations. During that arrest, police seized counterfeit notes valued at Rs 3 lakh.
This incident is part of a broader crackdown on a suspected counterfeit currency network operating from Bangalmora.
On July 9, three additional suspects—Hejbur Rahman, Mizanur Rahman, and Ekramul Islam—were apprehended in connection with this case.
The investigation accelerated following the arrests of Ajay Viswakarma and Debajit Deori in Guwahati on July 8, where counterfeit currency worth Rs 2.56 lakh was found in their vehicle.
Police sources indicated that Viswakarma allegedly admitted to circulating fake currency amounting to nearly Rs 100 crore through an organized network linked to Bangalmora.
He was also injured in police firing in Guwahati on July 9 while attempting to escape.
Authorities have since detained the alleged mastermind, Ainul Haque.
Interrogations have revealed information about a larger counterfeit currency syndicate, referred to as the “Ambani Gang,” which operates throughout Assam.
This crackdown follows a significant seizure on June 29, when Lakhimpur Police confiscated suspected Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) valued at Rs 33.59 lakh during a vehicle inspection at Dhalpur, resulting in the arrest of two individuals.
Law enforcement officials stated that investigations are ongoing to trace the origins of the counterfeit notes and identify additional members of the syndicate.
The Bangalmora region in Lakhimpur has long been associated with counterfeit currency and fake gold schemes, leading to repeated enforcement actions by law enforcement agencies.