Meet 88-year-old Gitesh Roy Choudhury who combatted three miscreants in an ATM booth in Silchar and got one nabbed

Octogenarians are easy targets of miscreants in Silchar. Often in ATM booths, the miscreants enter along with senior citizens and in the name of helping, con them instead. The miscreants observe the ATM pin and then subtly exchange the card. By the time the victim realises it, the account gets drained.

On Sunday evening, 88-year-old Gitesh Roy Choudhury entered the State Bank of India’s ATM booth in Das Colony. The Silchar resident wanted to check his mini-statement, something he does regularly to keep a tab on his savings account. The moment he entered his card into the automated teller machine, he realised there is someone standing right behind him.

“His presence was making me feel uncomfortable,” says Roy Choudhury. “I just got the mini statement and felt a push from behind. Due to the sudden jerk to my body, the statement fell from my hand. Before I could pick it up, the boy standing behind me started saying he will help me and removed the Debit Card from the slot. I was irked by the uncalled help,” Roy Choudhury adds.

Within a fraction of a second, the man standing behind him handed over the card. “I asked him, why did you touch my card and took it from him. That moment itself, I thought I would check the name on the card. I thank my presence of mind, as the name on the card he handed over, read Saju Miya,” says Roy Choudhury.

“I knew if I confront he will run away. So from that bent position itself, I punched him on his stomach exerting as much force as I could. He got shocked by my reaction and I followed with another punch on his face. He fell down, and I realised that two others are approaching me. I shouted, give me my card and that is when the girl inside the ATM booth said bhag bhag and ran away with another boy who was standing outside,” Gitesh Roy Choudhury explains the incident.

He found his card in the next machine which he says he never used. “So that he cannot run away, I stepped on him while he was lying down and repeated myself, saying give me my card back. He was in shock and murmured that your card is there in that other machine. After I got the card, I shouted for help and the locals rushed inside the booth. I checked the card and it was mine,” says Roy Choudhury.

After the locals rushed in and checked, they found 12 debit cards in that man’s possession. The man admitted that he is a part of the team that cons senior citizens in Silchar when they enter ATM booths. While attacked by the general public, he said his name is Pappu Mazumdar and he is a resident of the Sonai area. He also accepted that he was trying to con Gitesh Roy Choudhury.

“I don’t support the way locals attacked and started beating him. We should not encourage the mob mentality. I shouted for help as I knew that he could counter-attack me. But then I was repeatedly urging the people to hand him over to the Police which was eventually done,” asserts Roy Choudhury.

He said he keeps himself informed by reading newspapers regularly and is aware of the snatching and conning that is going on. “Police or security personnel cannot safeguard the society alone. I see people giving away OTPs and other important banking related details too easily. We should not do it. We need to play our part and after that, if we are unable to safeguard ourselves, Police can help us. I saw the name on the card and that is why my account got saved. If I would have just walked away, I would have left with no money,” he shares.

Gitesh Roy Choudhury retired from Assam Rifles in 1992 where he was in non-uniform duties. When asked where he gathered the courage to attack the miscreants, he smiles. “People of my age were never spoon-fed. We had to fight extremist elements who attacked us almost every day because of our religion. Even at this age, we can definitely give it back, it is just that we need a little more awareness.”

Gitesh Roy Choudhury stays alone with his wife at his own residence in Silchar. Both his daughters are married and live with their respective families. “I hope the Police officials will investigate the matter further and unearth the racket that is behind all these activities,” he concludes.

Please note, we have not disclosed the residential address of Mr. Gitesh Roy Choudhury for security reasons.