Imphal, October 24 2010: A fraud who reportedly collected a large amount of money from widows with false promise of pursuing motor accident claims has gone into hiding.

Md Hamidur Rehman (44) of Thoubal Moijing but staying at Hatta claimed himself to be editor of a weekly journal called Manipur Reporter.

Since 2007, he collected Rs 4000 each from 63 widows belonging to Chandel district.

For initial form fill-up, he took Rs 3000 and again levied another sum Rs 1000 for submission of bio-data from each of the 63 victims, said one Ng Hringtha (52), one of the victims.

Speaking to media persons at Hotel Orient, Hatta today, Hringtha said that they were informed by Hamidur that they must attend a court at Agartala and should assemble at Hotel Orient.

He went on to say that a bus has been arranged for the trip to Agartala.

"Believing his words, we came to Hotel Orient and have been putting up here since October 18," Hringtha said.

After dilly-dallying the matter all these days, 45 women started for Agartala only yesterday.

But after travelling up to Uripok, the vehicle was taken to a workshop saying that it had broken down and there it remained the whole day.

The women were led by Hamidur's brother-in-law Amir Razaque of Hatta and one Raham Hussain who worked in a ticket counter of Rajdhani Travels.

But Hamidur had disappeared since October 22. Bringing back the bus (MN-01/0975) to the hotel, the women held back Amir and Raham there.

Though absconding Hamidur is not an insurance agent, he had undertaken three similar trips earlier.

But he never succeeded in securing any amount for his 'clients', said his brother-in-law Amir.

A police team came to Hotel Orient this morning and tried to take away Amir forcibly.

However, the police attempt was foiled by the victimised women.

Hringtha said that they would file a formal complaint with the police against Hamidur.

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