A GROUP of Bahraini pilgrims, who were robbed on their way to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, could now be stopped from going on Haj altogether.

Sources told the GDN that the approximately 100 pilgrims, who were robbed of all their belongings, were travelling with an operator that had been banned from transporting pilgrims to Mecca three years ago.

They said the caravan had been stopped from operating due to several complaints.

It also emerged yesterday that the company, which allegedly continued to operate under the radar, had ignored recommended routes.

An official in Saudi Arabia, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the GDN that the pilgrims targeted in Wednesday's robbery now faced being sent back to Bahrain since they did not have proper Haj documentation.

"They (the travel operator) did not take the regular route that is taken by pilgrim buses and deviated onto unguarded side roads," he said yesterday.

He added that police were now investigating the incident and had questioned both the pilgrims and their bus drivers.

"The caravan owner has been allegedly managing to take pilgrims every year in spite of not being licensed, but this time - since people in his charge have been robbed - he is in trouble," added the official in Saudi Arabia, who is one of those responsible for co-ordinating Haj caravans across the border.

"Initial investigations have revealed the caravan owner was working in league with an agent in Saudi Arabia, who had designated the rogue operator as its subcontractor.

"This way, he was able to send pilgrims to Saudi Arabia not on his own, but under the guise of the Saudi operator."

He claimed pilgrims who travelled to Mecca in this way were often told to pretend they were not going on Haj, since only licensed caravans should leave Bahrain.

"Many times, they say they are pilgrims, but are going on their own," he added.

Those pilgrims robbed on Wednesday have now been asked to transfer to other Haj operators, if seats are available, or return to Bahrain.

"We are trying to expedite their transfer now, but this may be virtually impossible since they do not have required approvals," added the official.

The Bahraini pilgrims are now staying in a Ta'if hotel, 150km from Mecca.

Another Bahraini caravan operator, who asked to remain anonymous, confirmed his company had been approached to accommodate some of the victims.

"We are co-ordinating with our people in Saudi Arabia to see how we can help," he said.

mandeep@gdn.com.bh