Srinagar: Tourism Enforcement Wing of J&K Police busted a fake Travel Agency by the name of “Al Shama Holidays,” officials said on Wednesday.
“Taking cognizance of complaints received from several tourists, three cases came 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 alias Suraj Sharma alias Amir son of Ghulam Mohamad Shah resident of Kakawthal Barammulla presently at Mustafabad Zainakote and his wife namely Shama Hameed daughter of Hameed Sayed resident of Karwar Karnatka,” a police spokesman said. “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.”
The accused Umar Shah was arrested on 7 May 2015 and the office used by the accused couple at Munawarabad Srinagar by the name “Al Shama Holidays” was searched and incriminating documents were seized, the spokesman said.
“ It will be pertinent to mention that the said accused Umar Shah was also found 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 stands filed before the competent court.”
Investigations have revealed that the said accused has married with Shama Hameed and the modus operandi of the duo was to lure the innocent tourist through fake websites, emails, WhatsApp and fake itineraries, the spokesman said. “The bank accounts which were found in the name of accused Shama Hameed maintained in Union Bank of India, State bank of India Karnataka and UCO bank were freezed and the websites www.ladakhtourism.com was also blocked during the investigation,” the spokesman said, adding, “ General public is informed to stay aware of such fraudulent persons and to verify the antecedents of service providers before booking their trips.”
