Deported Youths Share Harrowing Tales of Exploitation and Survival
Recently, five deported individuals from Hoshiarpur, Punjab returned home after a harrowing migration attempt. They were subjected to dangerous conditions and deception by travel agents, resulting in significant emotional and financial impacts. MLA Jasvir Singh Raja assured support and legal actions against the responsible parties as the deportees recounted their traumatic experiences during their journey.
Last night, a group of deported Americans returned to Amritsar airport, with 10 individuals from Hoshiarpur district, five of whom hailed from Tanda. These deportees were escorted to the DSP office in Tanda, where they were welcomed by their families amidst emotional reunions, attended by MLA Jasvir Singh Raja and DSP Davinder Singh Bajwa. Tears filled the eyes of attendees as families reunited, highlighting the emotional toll of their ordeal.
The five individuals included Daljit Singh from Kurala, Harmanpreet Singh from Chauhana, Harpreet Singh from Barandari Tanda, Davinder Singh from Nangli (Jalalpur), and Manpreet Singh from Miyani. During a gathering at the DSP office, MLA Jasvir Singh Raja expressed support for the youth, pledging government assistance and justice as they navigate the aftermath of their harrowing experiences. He also promised to hold travel agents accountable for their deceitful practices of charging exorbitant fees.
The travel agents exploited these youths, with some agents reportedly acquiring property from their victims, including Daljit’s five acres of land, valued at around Rs 1 crore. The deportees recounted traumatic experiences during their journey, referring to abandonment in dangerous situations. Incidents of witnessing bodies and human remains were discussed, underscoring the serious risks these individuals faced during attempts to illegally migrate.
MLA Raja confirmed that while the young men were welcomed back, they must submit statements within five days to identify the involved agents. This information will assist authorities in pursuing necessary legal actions against the agents responsible for their exploitation. Daljit, one of the deported youths, shared a particularly harrowing experience wherein an agent furnished him with a donkey to traverse the treacherous Panama jungle, following an initial planned flight to the United States.
After entering through Tijuana in Mexico, Daljit was apprehended at the border and placed in a detention camp, where he endured freezing conditions. He described the inadequate food rations, which consisted of minimal chips, peas, and occasionally rice and water. Daljit was eventually returned to India under military escort, handcuffed, and shackled before making a public appeal for the restoration of his confiscated land, seeking justice for the wrongs committed against him.
The plight of these deported individuals reveals the severe exploitation by travel agents who manipulate vulnerable youths seeking better opportunities. The emotional reunions highlight the human cost of illegal migration, while government officials’ commitment to pursuing justice demonstrates a necessary step towards addressing these injustices and safeguarding potential victims in the future.
Original Source: www.tribuneindia.com
