Amritsar, August 4
Even as the district police has busted a number of gangs making counterfeit notes, some elements have been manufacturing fake coins.
While the supply of fake currency with various denominations was attributed to being a part of ‘proxy’ war unleashed by Pakistan’s ISI which is bent upon destabilising the Indian economy, the fake coins are said to be manufactured locally. Rs 5 coins are available in the market.
Mr Ravinder Kumar Sultanwind, president, All-India Youth Association, said the cost of the fake coins is reportedly less than 40 paise. The embossing on the coins on both sides is substandard and can be detected to be fake on feeling with hand.
Dr S. K. Kalia, SP (City), said the police had not yet received any complaint regarding the circulation of fake coins. He, however, said that he would look into the case as the matter was serious.
It is for the first time that the circulation of fake coins has been noticed.
The police is clueless about the prevalence of these coins in the market. The origin and manufacturers of these coins are yet to be found out.
Mr Sultanwind who brought the coins to ‘The Tribune’ office claimed he spotted them while buying groceries. He claimed that he received these coins from a shopkeeper as change in the walled city area.
