GUJRAT, April 27: Startling information about a racket of swindlers, who have deprived people of millions of rupees, are pouring in here. It is learnt that two brothers - Amjad Ali Tahir and Ijaz Mazhar of Karimpura locality, Lalamusa - slipped away after taking Rs30 million from the people on the pretext of providing them with household appliances through a lucky draw against only Rs1,500 non-refundable coupon.

A major chunk of the swindled amount was collected from the people to provide them vehicles on subsidized prices. Residents claimed that the two brothers had opened their offices at Chenab Plaza, Gujrat, and Bhadar Plaza on the GT Road, Lalamusa, in February this year.

They introduced themselves as directors of two registered international firms - Dreams in Life and Networking Club International - whose head offices were in Karachi and provincial offices in Lahore.

The two brothers got printed company's receipt books, visiting cards, letter-heads and other relevant material to hoodwink the people. The affected people of Lalamusa claimed that the forgers had over 200 invitations printed through which they organized a function at a park along the GT Road only for the publicity of their business.

Besides residents, some politicians and bureaucrats were served a wide variety of meals at the function. The organizers had also hired the services of some dancing girls. A similar function was also organized in Gujrat to attract the people.

Moved by the well-organized publicity campaign, the clients started visiting their offices where the forgers had hired the services of some women to deal with the female visitors.

They used to sell a coupon to their clients against Rs1,500 with a promise that their names would be included in a list prepared for a lucky draw while prize distribution ceremony would be held on March 12.

The declared prizes were a Mehran car, Honda 125 and Pak Hero motorcycles, TV sets, refrigerators, washing machines, a four-day tour of Dubai, air-coolers, dinner sets, audio and CD players, cell phones, bicycles, ovens, sewing machines, fans, VCD players and other prizes. The prize distribution ceremony had been fixed on March 10.

However, they held the ceremony on March 25 in Gujrat where they had distributed some prizes, including a motorcycle, among the winners through lucky draws. The forgers informed the participants that the remaining prizes of Gujrat and Lalamusa residents would be distributed on March 26 in Lalamusa, but they disappeared the same night.

It came to surface only after their disappearance that the forgers had collected a huge money from residents on the pretext of providing them with cars, wagons, Hiaces and motorcycles on subsidized prices.

Haroon of Lalamusa said he had given Amjad over Rs0.5 million for the delivery of a car. He said Amjad used to lure the people that vehicles would be provided to them without extra payment and within a fortnight. Generally, the people have to wait for some six months to get a new vehicle or to pay thousands in extra for the quick delivery.

Sources claimed that it was not an easy task to assess the actual plundered amount. Most of the affected people had receipts and cheques they had given to swindlers. The people claim that Amjad and Ijaz belong to the Ismaeli sect.

There are some unconfirmed reports from other districts of the province that the people have been deprived of huge amounts by the same modus operandi.

The sufferers have called upon the high-ups to direct the Gujrat DCO to set up an information counter to ascertain the actual loss of the people. They further demanded that the racket members should be arrested immediately besides recovering the plundered money from them.