Srinagar, May 30 (KNS): Jammu and Kashmir Police, Tourism enforcement wing on Wednesday claimed to have busted a fake Travel Agency by the name of “Al Shama Holidays” and arrested the main accused.
Taking cognizance of complaints received from several tourists, three cases were registered at tourist police station Srinagar.
“During investigation, it surfaced that a fake Travel Agency by the name of “Al Shama Holidays” is being run by one Umar Shah @ Suraj Sharma @ Amir, son of Ghulam Mohamad Shah, resident of Kakawthal Baramulla presently at Mustafabad Zainakoot and his wife namely Shama Hameed, daughter of Hameed Sayed resident of Karwar Karnataka,” police said in a statement issued to KNS.
They said that it surfaced during investigation that the accused was not providing any service to the tourists and used to grab the money which was deposited in his accounts. “A police team led by SHO Tourist Police Station Inspector Suhail Rasool arrested the accused Umar Shah on 07.05.2015 and the office used by the accused couple at Munawarabad Srinagar by the name & style of “Al Shama Holidays” was searched. Some incriminating documents, stamps etc were seized from the office,” they said.
Pertinently, the accused Umar Shah has been involved in previous two criminal cases of cheating and forgery viz FIR no’s 02/2013 and 01/2015 under sections 420, 467, 468 RPC 2/32, 36(2) tourist trade act and the charge sheet of both these cases stand filed before the competent court.
“Investigations have revealed that the said accused has married with one Shama Hameed and the modus operandi of the duo was to lure the innocent tourist through fake websites, emails, whatsapp and fake itineraries,” they said, adding that the bank accounts which were found in the name of accused Shama Hameed maintained in Union Bank of India, State bank of India Karnatka and UCO bank were freezed and the websites www.ladakhtourism.com was also blocked during the investigation.
General public is informed to be aware of such fraudulent persons and to verify the antecedents before doing business. (KNS)