Guide dupes Kashmiri pilgrims, leaving them mid-way in Beirut

SRINAGAR — A self-styled ‘guide’ has duped at least 10 Kashmiri pilgrims, after taking money from them to show sacred shrines and places in Iran, Iraq and other countries, leaving them mid-way in Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon.

At least 10 pilgrims are stuck in Delhi this time, requesting Jammu and Kashmir administration to help them return home as they are without money.

One of the pilgrims, Ghulam Hasan Wani of Devara Yetalampora village of Singhpora Pattan, told the news agency KNT over the phone from Delhi that a guide Syed Nasir from Harennarah Pattan took Rs one lakh per person to help them on pilgrimage to Karbala and other sacred sites.

“After performing the pilgrimage, the guide left us mid-way in Beirut without informing us. He is still absconding. We suffered heavily as we were not having money with us. We sold our valuables including the earrings and gold chains of women pilgrims accompanying us. Somehow, we have managed to reach New Delhi,” he said.

The pilgrims said that they have no money to return back to Valley as they have no money and are starving.

They appealed to LG Manoj Sinha-led administration to help them in returning home and direct police to take action against the guide. “We can’t narrate our sufferings in words. We are illiterates and yet he (guide) left us in the lurch,” said a woman pilgrim.