Two con over dozen by promising trip

Vadodara: More than a dozen citizens were allegedly conned by two persons from Surat who promised to take them to Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage last month.
The pilgrims got in contact with the two persons who claimed to be running a charitable trust in Surat for organizing pilgrimage tours.

The victims participated in a meeting held by the accused on July 8 at Kayavarohan near Por where they were given details about the tour. The pilgrims were told to pay Rs 85,000 through cheque and the remaining amount will be borne by them.

Another meeting was held in Manjalpur on September 17, where the victims were asked to furnish their passports, Aadhar card, voter identity card and photos for obtaining China’s visa.

sThe accused informed the pilgrims that the tour will start from Surat on September 21 and reach Kathmandu in Nepal on September 23 where they will get their visa.

Victims mentioned in their complaint that as per the plan they started from Surat and reached Gorakhpur on September 22. A day later on entering Nepal, the victims were taken to Pokhara for sightseeing for two days and then to Kathmandu. But on reaching Kathmandu, one of the tour organizers left after informing them that the tour cannot proceed as the visas have not been obtained.

The pilgrims were left to fend for themselves. They approached the Indian Embassy in Nepal. The embassy officials informed them that no visa procedures were initiated for them by anyone following which all of them returned to city.

On Wednesday and Thursday, the victims submitted applications to superintendent of Vadodara rural police to register cases of cheating and criminal conspiracy against the accused. No FIR has been registered yet, but police officials said that they have initiated probe in the issue.