SRINAGAR: Around 68 Amarnath Yatra pilgrims were found carrying fake yatra permits by the district administration Samba on Thursday leading to the registration of an FIR.
Reports said that two buses carrying 68 Amarnath pilgrims from Muzaffarnagar were checked at Shri Chichi Mata mandir for e-KYC verification and issuance of RFID Cards. It was found that yatra permits of most of the pilgrims were tampered.
The pilgrims revealed that their fake registration was done by Rahul Bhardwaj, a resident of Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, who reportedly took Rs 7,000 per head from them.
“On verification by the e-KYC, a team of District Samba led by the District Informatics Officer, it was found that yatra permits of most of the pilgrims were tampered. On further enquiry from the pilgrims and drivers, it revealed that these passengers got permits from one Mr. Rahul Bhardwaj R/o Muzaffarnagar, an agent of Vikas Bus Services operating from Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, in exchange of 7000 rupees per head,” they said.
It added that the district administration Samba under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner Abhishek Sharma, District Magistrate Samba & the District SSP Benam Tosh, immediately swung into action and the district Police took cognizance of the incident.
“Consequently, an FIR under section 420/468 of IPC has been registered in Police Station Samba. The District Magistrate Muzaffarnagar has also been requested to initiate legal action against the culprits namely Rahul Bhardwaj and others, responsible for cheating these gullible pilgrims, so that no innocent pilgrims further fall prey to such kind of frauds,” it said.
The details further reveal that the pilgrims shall be assisted for getting RFID cards which will be issued after fresh registration.
“All Yatris are requested to keep their authentic Yatra Permits along with their Aadhaar Card for proper e-KYC verification at the RFID counters and all Yatris are also requested to keep the RFID cards with them during the Yatra,” the officials said. (KNO)
