No bail for Northeast youths

Employers would bring licensed guns to the office and had bodyguards at most times

Eastern Mirror Desk Dimapur, Jan. 2: There is no respite for around 45 north-eastern youths, who were arrested last month in connection with a call centre scam operating in Noida, as they have not got bail. The Noida police arrested 126 people from a fake call centre in Noida’s sector 63 in Uttar Pradesh on Dec. 21. Several computer systems were also seized during the raid. A reliable source told Eastern Mirror that about 45 out of the total 126 persons arrested during the raid last month are from Northeast India and that bail was set at INR 50,000 per head as surety bond. “Once the case proceeds after the bail, the agent might demand more money but as of now, the priority is to bail the arrested persons,” said the source known to one of the accused in Luksar jail. The source claimed that the police and law enforcing agencies have not arrested three employers of the fake company as they are influential people. “That is what we are afraid of at this point of time, as the employers are still not caught though it has been almost two weeks (since the office was raided),” said the source, adding that the company was earning in terms of crores per month. The source went on to claim that the employers would bring licensed guns to the office and had bodyguards at most times. When asked how the information was obtained, the source claimed that a roommate of one of the accused had divulged all the details. “One accused has a roommate, and it seems after work the accused would share these information and other happenings at work place.” The source went on to say that most of the arrested Northeast youth were from “low income” families, which will make it difficult for the family members to hire lawyers. Thomas Thailu, OSD to Nagaland state’s Planning and Coordination department, told Eastern Mirror that a meeting was held on Dec. 26 with the Deputy Resident Commissioner (DRC). “We did not suggest any lawyer or advocate to the families of the jailed; it depends solely on the family members who they want to hire as an advocate,” said Thailu. When asked if the bail was set at INR 50,000 per head as surety bond as claimed by our source, Thailu said he had no such information. “We are only here to facilitate and make sure that the welfare of the youth is in good hands,” he informed. He informed that out of the 126 arrested, 118 are males, 8 are females and about 35 are Nagas. “We hope justice for the arrested youths come soon and the masterminds are arrested at the earliest,” he stated.