Reported by Farhana Ahmed
North Lakhimpur: Dozens of rural women entrepreneurs have allegedly been duped by a group of scammers in Assam’s Lakhimpur district over the past three years.
The allegations surfaced in the Padmapur area of Laluk in the district after several dozen women filed complaints at Laluk Police Station. The complainants alleged that one Zebin Sultana from Nadika duped them of crores of rupees by promising hefty returns.
According to one of the victims from Padmapur, Zebin persuaded her to take microfinance loans and invest the amount in her business. She said Zebin also promised to pay the loan EMIs.
However, the borrowers faced problems when Zebin allegedly stopped paying the EMIs after two to three months, following which recovery notices were served by the banks.
The victims alleged that Zebin also refused to return the loan amounts and threatened them with police action.
It is learnt that the accused woman allegedly collected more than Rs 20 crore from rural women entrepreneurs in Nadika, Kahinpora, and Padmapur in Lakhimpur district.
“Zebin persuaded rural women to take as many as seven SHG microfinance loans under one name and promised to return the principal amount along with all EMIs paid,” said a woman from Padmapur.
Zebin was allegedly assisted in the scam by her husband, Nuruddin Ali, and her younger brother, Asad Ali Khan, who is associated with a local media portal, along with some CSP operators.
It was further alleged that Zebin intimidated her victims by claiming to have police protection.
Police have so far not been able to arrest the accused.