Travel firm scams Hyderabad pilgrims, leaves them stranded in Iraq

In a strange turn of events for the 32 pilgrims from Hyderabad in the holy city of Najaf in Iraq, they are now stranded after their visas expired and the tour guide abandoned them without paying hotel bills.

According to the reports, the tour was organized by Hyderabad-based tour operator KSS Travels which shut shop after criminal cases were slapped on them.

The tour operator collected money from thousands of Muslims for Umrah and for ziarat of Shia shrines in Karbala and Najaf, Iraq with more than 80 people from Hyderabad setting off on the pilgrimage In the first week of May.

However, as they were on pilgrimage, the KSS Travels downed their shutters in AP and Telangana while the representatives of KSS Travels abandoned pilgrims in Iraq.

With the tour operator not paying the bills of the hotel, the staff detained the pilgrims and also as their visas have expired, they are stuck in Iraq.

Meanwhile, police have registered two criminal cases against KSS Travels and are investigating further.