2 boys engaged in duping medicine seekers arrested

LUCKNOW: Lucknow police on Monday unearthed a gang of minor boys engaged in duping people, in urgent need of Remdesivir injections and oxygen cylinders, through using social media platforms here in Lucknow.

The gang has duped over 30 people in past many days and one of the critical patients, who was dependent on them for the injection, had even lost his life due to the delay, said police officials. Lucknow Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Central, Somen Barma said the two minor boys were arrested from Vrindavan colony for operating twitter handle with the name of fake medical products sellers and offering people lifesaving medicines and oxygen cylinders in Lucknow during this second surge of Covid-19. He said the boys had displayed the prices of Remdesivir injections and oxygen cylinders very reasonable to trap people in their net.

The press note from the Lucknow Commissionerate read that the boys had displayed price of ₹8,500 for one injection and ₹3,500 for an oxygen cylinder. The boys used to demand 40 percent amount in advance through e-wallets after assuring do the delivery in 24 hours. “The accused, however, used to block the numbers of customers after taking the advance payment,” the press note stated.

An inspector privy to the investigation said the boy often used to change their twitter title after duping 2-3 people to ensure people trust them as a trusted and authenticated dealers of Remdesivir injections and oxygen cylinders. He said the boys started duping people in the name of providing injections and oxygen cylinders after reading on social media that people are struggling and paying hefty amounts for it.

He said the police had found around ₹72,500 in their e-wallet send by different people. He said the police are further exploring their network suspecting some more members in the gang.