If you're traveling through the Bihar-Jharkhand border (Bhagalpur-Dumka route), you need to be cautious. Six fraudsters posing as National Highway Reflector Service officials are forcefully extorting money and threatening those who refuse to pay.
Illegal Collection of Rs 500 from Every Vehicle
Pretending to be officers from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways' Safety Authority, these scammers are illegally collecting five hundred rupees from every passing vehicle on NH-133E while the police stood helpless. These fraudsters have also extorted money from Bihar registered vehicles BR11AN 9461, BR11AW 5335, and BR11PB 7329, issuing threats alongside.
To maintain trust, these fraudsters provide a receipt labeled as National Highway Reflectors, despite there being no such agency backed by the state or central government, nor any connection with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
The culprits are misusing the NHAI's name to collect money, featuring instructions allegedly from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on these receipts, which is misleading as NHAI only collects toll taxes and no other road charges. The validity on these fake receipts is marked as four months.
Exploiting the Name of National Highway Reflectors
The mentioned 'National Highway Reflectors' service does not exist; it's merely a small road safety device designed to enhance visibility in low light conditions. These reflectors bounce back light from vehicle headlights, aiding drivers in spotting road boundaries, lanes, and speed breakers during night or adverse weather.
Source: aajtak
To build trust among people, they offer a safety kit with first aid items in exchange for illegal payment. When reported to the police, they directed individuals to contact the National Highways Authority of India without action.
NHAI Orders FIRs Against Fraudsters
Following the exposure of the scam, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) ordered the registration of FIRs against these antisocial elements. NHAI urged regional offices in Bihar and Jharkhand to file FIRs against those illegally collecting money under its name.
Source: aajtak
Such Illegal Activities Won't Be Tolerated: NHAI
An NHAI official stated, 'These illegal activities are intolerable. We appeal to people not to fall victim to such extortion. NHAI does not run any 'National Highway Reflector Service'. The issued receipts are fake, and people should be cautious.'
This illegal extortion haunt has become a significant nuisance for drivers, particularly those involved in interstate transport. Regular commuters express that such unlawful activities undermine public trust.
