Maha team in Uttarakhand foils bid of crooks to claim aid

A team of Revenue officials from Maharashtra has foiled a bid of crooks to claim financial assistance and other benefits by posing themselves as relatives and acquaintances of the pilgrims from the state affected by floods in Uttarakhand.
The team from Thane district, including deputy collector Manoj Ranade, was deputed in Kedarnath to assist pilgrims from the state stranded in the rain-ravaged Uttarakhand and has so far helped out more than 2,500 pilgrims, one of the officials who is part of the team told PTI.
He said a group of 35 persons approached the officials in Uttarakhand claiming that they are the relatives and/or acquaintances of pilgrims from Maharashtra who are missing.

The relief announced by the state government includes Rs 2,000 cash for return journey, medicines, food and other aid.
The team grew suspicious and got 35 persons arrested.
Local police in Uttarakhand said that some of the accused had been doing intoxicants and were indeed trying to cheat, the official added.