The operator of the private school in Surrey knew he had a ready and willing clientele if he put the word out.

"Send your children to my school to study and you can get a chance to migrate to Canada" was the criminal theme.

Gurpreet Singh hosts the innovative Punjab police Helpline show

The college operator with bases in Canada and the Punjab vanished after the collecting the fees.

Many of the frustrated complainants unable to get redress locally turned to a radio show called the NRI or Non-Resident Indian Helpline that comes on Surrey's Radio India.

Within weeks, police in Punjab swooped down on the alleged mastermind's house in India after putting him on the wanted list.

For thousands of Indo-Canadians in the Toronto area, the currency exchange run by a popular family with connections in India was the way to go when it came to getting rupees or dollars.

What they did not realize was that their money in the millions was being siphoned off in an elaborate foreign exchange fraud.

The family behind the fraud had extensive business connections in India and Canada and had also set up an association to help Indo-Canadians in Punjab.

Calls were made to the NRI Helpline radio show in Toronto about the alleged fraud prompting the launching of an investigation soon after in Punjab.

A few weeks later, Punjab police arrested several people in connection with the case, including a Canadian and charged them with cheating and running an underground illegal banking system.

These are but two of the cases handled by the NRI Helpline radio show which is a feature fast becoming one of the hottest programs on Indian airwaves.

Hosted by Radio India in Surrey and Asian Connections Radio in Toronto, the show involves senior Punjab police officials talking to Indo-Canadians directly who want to lodge reports and trigger investigations in India.

The Tribune newspaper in India lauding the helpline reported: "After their problems are brought to the fore, the NRIs forward their complaints through fax and e-mails. Without wasting time, the cops back home start probing.

The complaints are monitored personally by senior Punjab Police officers. In 15 days time, a reply is sent back through radio and e-mail."

"It's marvelous...It has become a very popular show," Ashiana Khan, business manager for Radio India told The Asian Pacific Post.

She said many in the Indo-Canadian community have issues to deal with back in India and use the show as a platform to air their grievances or find out how they can wrong a right.

"The problems range from land issues, to dowry and marriage cases to immigration scams and fraud.

"The officers then get back to the complainants directly," said Khan, whose station is on AM 1600.

The show has been on for the last three months and is hosted by Gurpreet Singh.

Singh said complainants in both the solved cases talked to police in Punjab directly on the radio show and that this led to raids, charges and arrests.

Singh said in addition to the two cases there have been several issues that have been raised by his listeners that are being dealt with Punjab police.

"It's becoming a popular forum for Indo-Canadians who have problems and police issues," he said.

Gurmant Grewal

"The Liberals have been cutting resources and funding to law enforcement agencies making it sometimes impossible for them to catch criminals who operate globally.

"It now needs a police officer to file 1,600 pages to get authorization for a 90-day phone tap...this is getting ridiculous and allowing organized crime to grow," said Grewal.

He suggested the RCMP listen in on the radio show as they may learn about many issues involving the community.

"Some of the reporters in Radio India have told me they have many complaints about crimes involving the community and have tried to raise it with the RCMP but have not been able to," said the MP.

Surrey RCMP spokesperson Cst. Marina Wilks said the radio show was a good initiative that helps reach out towards the community.

She said the information flow will help policing in both countries.

Surrey RCMP also has a racial diversity officer and several Indo-Canadian officers to deal with issues within the community

So far the special Punjab police unit has handled 186 complaints through the helpline. Out of these, action has been initiated in 140 cases.

Thirty nine of them were of civil nature. In 36 cases the facts could not be established. As many as 46 cases are still being looked into, Indian media said.

Canada has an Indo-Canadian population of about 500,000--over 70 per cent of whom come from the Punjab State.

The NRI Helpline radio show is on every second Thursday on Radio India AM 1600.

Callers can reach the host Gurpreet Singh between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. by dialing 604-5929191.

The next show is on November 19.

The radio show is part of a special unit established by Punjab police this year to help Indians and others who live overseas.

Indo-Canadians who need police help in Punjab can also contact the special unit by calling 0172-2749739 and 0172-2741829 or faxing complaints 0172-2740901.