Two Gurdaspur men arrested in Greece for ‘smuggling’ explosives

KIN OF BHUPINDER SINGH AND JAIDEEP, WHO WERE EMPLOYEES OF A SHIPPING FIRM, CLAIM THEY ARE INNOCEDNT

GURDASPUR : Families of two youths of Kahnuwan in Gurdaspur, arrested in Greece on the charges of smuggling explosive material in January, have been struggling to get them released from the Greek jail, but in vain. So far, they have got no hope from any quarter.

The arrested youths have been identified as Jaideep and Bhupinder Singh.

The families, who claim that the youths were innocent, have also sought the help of Union minister for external affairs Sushma Swaraj.

Bhupinder Singh's father Balkar Singh said that his son worked as a deckman at a ship of a shipping company and he had signed a contract with the company for nine months.

The contract, he said, expired on January 18, but he was not relieved.

He alleged that the company did not pay even a penny as salary for this period to his son.He said his son told to the company that he would not work for the company after the expiry of the agreement.

But, on January 12, the Greek Coast Guards took the ship in custody and arrested 8 members of the crew, including his son Bhupinder Singh, after they seized some explosive material in the ship.

Preeti, wife of Jaideep, who was also arrested along with Bhupinder Singh, said that she was shocked to read the news of his arrest on the charge of smuggling explosive material by the Greek police.

The affected families said that what was being transported by the shipping company was the responsibility of the shipping company concerned and not of its employees.