Fraud social worker disappears
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 07 2011:
A fraud social worker who recruited many social workers through advertisements and instructed them to mobilise students in the name of Nehru Peace Foundation (NPF) has fled as police started investigating his activities.
Jose Thomas (36) who identified himself as a representative of the dubious NPF ran away from Hotel Classic here this morning.
Before fleeing, Jose Thomas had already appointed 50 so-called social workers from Manipur after convincing them they would be given Rs 3 lakhs per annum at the rate of Rs 25,000 per month plus one new two-wheeler for 'introducing' 15 students.
The same advertisement calling intending social workers was published in both the editions of this paper too on July 24 .
Students who have passed 10+2 and were brought to NPF were promised educational loans for undergoing professional and technical courses.
Speaking about the dubious foundation, Social Welfare Probation Officer K Saroja said that on learning about Jose Thomas giving appointment letters to recruited social workers, a team of Social Welfare officials together with police met Jose Thomas on August 5 and 6 .
At first, Thomas identified himself as state secretary but on looking at his identity card, his designation was given as social worker and his identity card was issued by the foundation's state secretary.
As he could not produce any convincing document besides making contradictory statements, a complaint was lodged at Imphal police station yesterday, Saroja said.
"However, we have no idea about the modus operandi of Jose Thomas and the reason why he fled", she said.
Two women subordinate staff associated with Jose Thomas are presently staying at Hotel Classic.
"We see them as victims of Thomas' fraud", she said while adding that the two women are from Bangalore and Kerala.
Noting that this is not the first case of people being duped by agencies or NGOs coming from outside the State, AMSU president has questioned as to how the fraud was allowed to escape despite the complaint against him.
36 year old Jose Thomas belongs to Anakullu, Kerela.
According to a social worker recruited by Thomas, a training programme for the recruited social workers was held for three days in Hotel Classic some days back.
The official letter-head used by Thomas was of two types, one having office at New Delhi and another in Kerela.