Indian Government was on Thursday, January 12, compelled to scale up an operation to flush out individuals posing as police officers after two Kenyan brothers lost over Ksh200,000.
According to officers attached to Gurugram Police Station, law enforcement officers had been tasked to launch a crackdown to expose the syndicate to protect foreign nationals from being duped by fake cops.
Gurugram asked security management to increase CCTV cameras, employ more guards and print out pamphlets to protect foreigners.
All hospitals were also instructed to brief the foreign patients that their visas and passports were not required for inspection by ordinary cops while moving around in different Indian streets.
Police officers were also advised to inform foreigners of the dangers of carrying huge chunks of money.
"Whenever foreign patients are brought from the hospital by vehicle to their guest house and hotel, their attendants must take a photo of the number plate of the vehicle and keep a copy of the driving license of the driver with them," Virender Vij, a police boss in Gurugram announced.
"The range of the CCTV cameras installed at the main gate of the hospital should be long and the number of cameras should be increased. Pamphlets of these guidelines should also be placed at the reception of the guest house where foreign citizens are staying," Vij added.
The new security protocols were rolled out following a special meeting involving top government officials.
Cops in India launched the operation after two Kenyan brothers lost over Ksh200,000 to the syndicate posing as police officers.
According to Indian Times, the fake cops allegedly forced the Kenyans to go through an impromptu search and managed to walk away with the cash.
The incident happened on Sunday, January 8, near a top hospital in Gurugram, India.
"On Sunday evening, my brother and I had gone to the market to shop. On our way back on the service road near our guest house, three people in a white car accosted us.
"They told us that they were from the police department and wanted to search our passport and luggage," the victim recounted.
The victim had visited India to seek medical attention. However, it is not clear whether the suspects behind the robbery incident were apprehended.
