SHILLONG, July 22: Shillong is witnessing a new trend involving drunkards or drug addicts who fake road accidents to extort vehicle owners and drivers.
On Monday evening, a biker was riding through the busy Polo area when a drunk man suddenly stopped the bike and claimed he had been hit on the leg by the two-wheeler. The man “touched” the biker even as some other drunkards or drug addicts appeared to back him.
Traffic police personnel on duty in the area quickly intervened and dispersed the group.
This is not an isolated incident. According to residents, similar attempts were made in the past, where a group of drunkards suddenly appears in front of moving vehicles, stages fake accidents and attempts to extort drivers.
Recounting a recent incident that took place near Polo Market junction, a woman said, “As I was heading back home after work, a man, who was in an inebriated state, intentionally hit his body against my car’s bumper.”
Out of concern, the woman asked him if he was hurt but he banged on the car’s bonnet and accused her of hitting him. The woman said traffic police personnel rescued her from the situation and eventually, the man apologised.
Another woman was a victim of a similar scam that took place in Mawlai during the COVID lockdown. A man, who appeared to be a drug addict, falsely claimed that she had hit him with her vehicle.
“He said I ran over his foot. When I opened the door to see if it really happened, he quickly entered the car and asked me to give him money so he can go and get a massage for himself,” the woman said.
The man even allegedly asked her to give him a lift and she agreed but when they reached his location, he demanded Rs 1,000.
“I told him that I had only Rs 500 and gave it to him,” she said, adding that she had lodged a police complaint later.
According to residents, these individuals look for lone drivers or bikers. This form of scam is common in bigger cities. Now that it is happening in Shillong, residents called for intensified police patrolling and actions.
