Travel agency takes pilgrims for a ride

KURNOOL/AMALAPURAM, May 30, 2018 00:58 IST

Updated: May 30, 2018 00:58 IST

Lured them with offer of arranging visit to Karbala at low cost

A travel agency has allegedly duped Muslims ₹2 crore by offering a visit to Karbala (pilgrim centre for Shias) at low cost.

A similar incident occurred in Prodduturu of Kadapa district and Kurnool on Monday and the travel agency name is also KSS Travels.

About 700 to 1,000 Muslims from Konaseema approached the agency in different parts of the Amalapuram revenue division and its head office in Nagaram village of Mamidikuduru mandal.

The agents of the agency in Amalapuram, Nagaram, Cheyyeru, Razole, Gannavaram, Mummidivaram, Challapalli, Ravulapalem and other areas allegedly lured poor families by offering the visit at 18,000 instead of ₹70,000 per head. The interested paid the money and handed over their passports to them.

Passports handed over

“We handed over our passports about six months ago and paid ₹18,000 per head from my family of 12 persons,” said Moosa Hussein, Karar Hussein, Sheik Vali and Liyakhat from Amalapuram who lodged a complaint.

According to Amalapuram DSP L. Prasanna Kumar, the main branch of the agency is in Nagaram run by one Abbas. He said they had booked cheating case against the agent who was at large.