EVER wondered why buying Tatkal rail tickets online from the IRCTC website would often prove to be a headache? While the website would show tickets available, when you tried buying them, they would be waitlisted. You must have probably cursed the slow speed of your Internet for this. But it has now emerged that a gang has been operating for a couple of years, hacking into the IRCTC website and buying Tatkal tickets even before you could log into the system. The gang, which was operating out of Uttar Pradesh, was making quite a killing, selling these Tatkal tickets at a commission ranging from ` 500 to ` 1,000. The operation came to light after the police arrested Salman, a Class V dropout. His proficiency in computers and software came as a surprise to the special task force ( STF) officials who nabbed him in Lucknow. The software, called Triple X, was developed by an Ahmedabadbased IT professional, Kulveer Singh, and is pretty handy to use. “ You can’t imagine… Just insert the CD containing the software and it connects you to a link on the IRCTC website. These people used to generate 10 to 15 PNR numbers before 8am every morning ( when one can log in for Tatkal tickets) and used to sell the Tatkal tickets from between ` 500 to ` 1,000,” STF deputy superintendent of police, S. Anand, said. The software helped them to go straight to the link and they did not even had to take the pain of opening the IRCTC website, leave alone logging in, he added. The gang has apparently made more than ` 50 lakh in this manner. Two of Salman’s associates, Satish Tiwari and Satiram Nishad, have been nabbed from Basti district, Anand added. “ Initial interrogation of the three has indicated that they have around 50 associates operating in UP. The Mumbai branch of the CBI too was hunting for them for a long time now,” Anand informed. He said a team of CBI officials from Mumbai would be reaching Lucknow soon to take Salman and his aides on transit remand for further investigation. “ A team has also been sent to Ahmedabad to catch Kulveer,” another STF official said. The gang would launch the software and open the IRCTC link at around 7.50 in the morning. The software would generate 10 to 15 PNR numbers for Tatkal booking. As soon as the IRCTC website would open at 8am, the PNR numbers would get registered and the tickets confirmed. A software would take the gang to an IRCTC link that would generate 10- 15 PNR numbers for Tatkal bookings. The gang then sold these tickets for ` 500 to ` 1,000 | 
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