Police busts gang of fake travel agents

Moga, June 21 (UNI) Police arrested five bogus travel agents and busted an inter-state gang of fake travel agents involved in swindling of about Rs 58 lakh from six Moga residents and recovered some passports with fake visas of UK, Canada and the US and also fake airlines tickets.

The district police arrested two fraud agents, Major Singh and Sukhwinder Singh, both of Tallewala village of Barnala district and was trying to nab their four accomplices, SSP Devinder Singh Garcha said here today.

Police also arrested two other travel agents of Ajitwal village identified as Ramesh Kumar and Rakesh Kumar who allegedly duped one Sukhdev Singh of Butterkala of Rs 1.40 lakh on the pretext of sending him to Malaysia. Police interrogation revealed that the duo was involved in many such other cases and investigation was in progress, the SP said.

Mr Garcha also claimed that Economic Offence cell of Moga district police last night arrested absconding travel agent Gurmeet Singh against whom 4-5 cases of duping innocent people have been registered with Baghapurana and Moga police.

He had duped Harnek Singh of Langeana village of Rs 50,000 and Hardeep Singh of Dala village of Rs 40,000 on the pretext of sending them abroad.

He was arrested last year but had jumped bail and was absconding since then. Police was also in search of another travel agent Basant Singh of Pangrain for duping one Gurmail Singh of Smalsar of Rs one lakh.

UNI