Tour operator abandons pilgrims during Amarnath trip, held

Time of India

3 days ago

Jaipur: Fourteen pilgrims who thought they were headed for Amarnath pilgrimage were instead led into a scam after their tour organiser left them stranded mid-journey, endangering their lives.
SHO (Shastri Nagar) Mahendra Singh Yadav said that the police arrested Sanjay Singh Naruka, 42, a tour operator who allegedly conned 14 Jaipur residents under the guise of an Amarnath pilgrimage package.
The victims, led by complainant Kamal Kumawat of Shastri Nagar, paid Rs 8,500 each to Naruka of "Lucky Tour and Travels" in Subhash Colony. The trip began on July 11 and ended on July 17. But when the group returned, Sanjay was gone.
His phone was switched off, and his office was locked. "The pilgrims did not have enough resources to find their way back as the accused promised that everything would be arranged for the trip.
Instead, the victims were left stranded in tents and arranged money after much difficulty in an area where the phone network was weak," Yadav said.
A case was filed at Shastri Nagar police station on July 22. The investigation team tracked the accused's phone, but he switched it off. However, a Cyber Cell team pulled his IMEI data and zeroed in on a fresh activation. Cops raided his rented hideout in Shiv Shakti Colony, Shastri Nagar. He wasn't there, but their search extended across Jaipur. On Thursday, they finally nabbed him.
Naruka, originally from Alwar district, was trying to lie low after pocketing the funds. Police said he had no intention of refunding or responding to any of the travellers.