Nizamabad: The police on Saturday arrested three travel agents for duping unemployed and semi-skilled youths by collecting large sums from them by falsely promising jobs in Israel and the Gulf countries.
Around 60 youths from Kamareddy, Nizamabad, Rajanna Sircilla, Medak, Siddipet, Nirmal and Jagtial districts were cheated by travel agents. Several youths were encouraged to prefer jobs in war-torn Israel by paying lesser amounts to travel agents.
Deccan Abroad Educational Consultancy in Kamareddy collected money from youths by offering them jobs in Israel. It collected `30,000 and more from each candidate depending on their abilities.
After collecting money March and April, the consultancy disappeared in the first week of May. Youths realised that they were duped by travel agents and lodged a complaint with Kamareddy police on May 15. Police formed two special teams to nab the gang and caught three members on Saturday.
Police arrested Meesala Kiran, Gujjula Vijay of Armoor and Mohammad Ali of Hyderabad and presented them before a court which sent them to judicial remand. Police also seized two cars, a laptop, a computer, phones and other records from the trio.
During interrogation, the accused confessed that they had collected around `17 lakh from the youths and did not send a single person to Israel. Collected money was utilised for their personal expenses and office maintenance.
Police also noticed that Meesala Kiran changed his name as Kranthi Kumar and address in Aadhaar card. They also opened an account in Federal Bank and asked the victims to deposit money in that account.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Kamareddy circle inspector Chandrashekar said that the victims should approach the police over cheating by agents.
The accused opened their office at NGOs Colony in Kamareddy. Following the complaints, a case was registered against the accused, he said.
He said if anyone offered them jobs in foreign countries, youths should inquire about the credentials of the organisers and approach the police for verification. The CI said no money should be paid to errant travel agents and consultancy organisers.