Kollam: Fake travel agencies that swindle money in the name of Haj pilgrimage are rampant in the State. Several groups that set off to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage complain that they were denied proper facilities at the pilgrim centre.
In the latest incident of fraud, a seven-member team including women from Kollam was given a‘visit visa for trade purposes’ instead of ‘pilgrimage visa’ by an agent, turning their pilgrimage into an ordeal. The family had to walk along the desert for at least two hours before they reached a place with transport facilities, it is alleged.
The journey turned into a nightmare for Abdul Rahim (58) and his wife Rafeeqa (52) of Rasiya Manzil at Vadakke Mukku in Kannanalloor here as they were allegedly cheated along with seven others in their group by an agent from Kollam.
“We had given a payment of Rs 3 lakh per person to an agent named Y. Shajahan of Bharat Haj Group in Pallimukku here months back to perform the pilgrimage. He gave us a visit visa for trade instead of a pilgrimage visa. With a trade visa, it is illegal to perform the Haj pilgrimage,” Abdul Rahim told DC.
The clients were at first informed that they could perform the Haj only next year, but the applicants protested and demanded their money back. However, on August 30, the agent however asked them to get ready for the journey by September 5. In the visa distributed among the pilgrims, it was mentioned ‘not to perform Haj and Umra pilgrimage’.
The agent informed them that he would fetch the right papers to permit them for Haj once they reached Saudi Arabia. The flight landed at Jeddah airport where they had to stay for another three days. They were taken to Sharaffiya and then to Mecca in two vehicles. After a nearly six-hour journey, the team was abandoned at a desert and meanwhile the agent absconded, Mr. Abdul Rahim alleged.
The pilgrims however completed the pilgrimage with minimal facilities spending their own money. The team members are planning a legal fight against the fraud.
