24-year-old conman held, admits to targeting tourists

A 24-year-old conman who was arrested for duping a British couple, has admitted to looting foreigners en-route to Shimla.

The conman would travel on trains coming from Delhi towards Kalka, and after burgling tourists, he would get off the train at any station to avoid arrest.

According to government railway police (GRP) officials, the accused Vinay Kumar has confessed to stealing on multiple occasions.

Police officials said that they zeroed in on him after a British couple lodged a complaint last month on January 26.

The couple alleged that their bags were stolen from the railway station at Kalka, where they had gotten off the train to take photographs. The accused stole Rs 90,000, a ladies bag and a camera from them.

Based on the complaint, the GRP prepared a sketch of the accused resulting with his arrest on Sunday.

Police officials said Vinay Kumar had adopted a novel modus operandi to loot tourists. A BA graduate who knows English, Kumar would ride in AC coaches and talk to tourists to win their confidence, and then steal when the opportunity arose. He would then get down at some platform to evade arrest and suspicion.

Police said that on January 13 the accused had also duped foreigners in Himachal Pradesh after giving them sleeping pills.

During the questioning, officials said the accused has admitted to committing five thefts and had been indulging in the practice for the last two years. The police is identifying locations in Ludhiana where he would store the stolen items.

"Kalka station remains a very busy station. There are at least five-six trains that stop at the station daily, not just from Delhi, but even from Kolkata and Mumbai. However the accused would rob only foreigners and not local passengers, and in some cases he would give them sleeping pills with the food," said an official.

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