Uncovering a Document Forgery Racket in Hailakandi: 27 Fake Birth Certificates Found

Discovery of Forged Birth Certificates

Hailakandi, June 11: The local administration in Hailakandi has uncovered 27 counterfeit birth certificates during a routine verification of Aadhaar applications, raising alarms about a potentially extensive forgery operation in the area.

As reported by Additional District Commissioner (ADC) Tridib Roy, these fraudulent documents were identified while checking the supporting paperwork for Aadhaar enrollment.

“We found 27 birth certificates to be fake during our verification. We promptly sent them to the Director of Health Services for validation, who confirmed their fraudulent nature,” Roy explained.

Among the 27 forged certificates, one was allegedly issued by SK Roy Civil Hospital in Hailakandi, while the other 26 were attributed to Lala Hospital. However, both institutions have denied issuing any such documents, reinforcing suspicions of forgery.

“These counterfeit certificates are convincingly crafted, featuring QR codes and formatting that mimic authentic documents. Some even link to replicated versions of central government websites, which could easily deceive officials during casual checks,” Roy noted.

The administration is concerned that these fake birth certificates could serve as foundational documents for acquiring other essential identity proofs, including Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, voter IDs, driving licenses, or even Indian passports.

All 27 forged documents, along with the verification report, have been forwarded to the Superintendent of Police in Hailakandi for an in-depth investigation. The police have commenced inquiries to determine the scope of the forgery operation and identify those responsible.

This incident is not isolated; in February, over 100 similar counterfeit certificates were discovered and also referred to the police for further investigation.

“We have strong reasons to believe that a well-organized network is behind these forgeries. Most of the documents appear to originate from the southern regions of Hailakandi, indicating a systematic approach. This issue is serious and requires immediate attention,” Roy emphasized.