4 Punjabis stuck in Armenia: Another travel agent booked
Police say seven travel agents have been booked, but no arrest so far
FOUR YOUTHS STUCK IN ARMENIA HAD UPLOADED A VIDEO ON SOCIAL MEDIA, REQUESTING SANGRUR MP BHAGWANT MANN TO BRING THEM BACK
Police on Wednesday registered third FIR against two travel agents for fraudulently sending a 28-year-old youth to Armenia on travel visa in December 2018 after promising him a work visa.
Police have booked Palwinder Kaur of Dhilwan and Armenia-based travel agent Harpreet Kaur under Section 420 (cheating) of the IPC and Section 13 of the Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act, 2012, for duping Harmanjeet Singh of Nadala town. However, no arrest has been made so.
Police in Kapurthala on Tuesday had registered two different FIRs and named six people, including Armenia-based travel agent Harpreet Kaur and Gurdev Singh, Paramjeet Kaur, Parminder Kaur of Dhilwan, Komaldeep of Jandiala and Jaswinder Kaur of Beas in Amritsar, under Section 420 (cheating) and Section 13 of the Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act 2012 for duping Jatinder Singh of Amritsar district, Shamsher Singh of Bholath and his wife Pinki.
This came after a video went viral on social media in which youths sought help of Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann. They urged Mann to take action against the travel agents, alleging that a group of seven travel agents from Dhilwan and Patti duped them of ₹4 lakh each and fraudulently sent them on a tourist visa to Armenia.
In the video, the youths claimed that they did not have food for five days and landlord had asked them to leave the place.
Sukhdev Singh, father of Harmanjeet, said they came in contact with Palwinder, who assured of work and ₹50, 000 to 70, 000 per month salary in Armenia in exchange of ₹4 lakh.
“My son boarded the flight on December 9, 2018, from Jaipur for Armenia. But till now, he did not get any work. Both agents had duped us over ₹4 lakh and my son is also living an awful life there,” said Sukhdev.
Bholath DSP Davinder Singh said three FIRs have been registered against seven travel agents and police are conducting raids at their address to nab them.
Mann said as soon as he gets the details, he will forward the case to the ministry of foreign affairs. “I have shared the video on my social media accounts and I hope the youths will return soon. Many people come to me regularly with such cases. I appeal to the people that they should check the authenticity of the agents and the prospects in foreign countries in advance,” he said.
Taking a jibe at the Punjab government, Mann said, “Even after so many cases and appeals, government is not taking action against the travel agents. They should shut shops of all unregistered travel agents.”