Jalandhar, September 2
Two Punjabi youth, just back from Algeria after suffering at the hands of travel agents and the police, had sad tales to tell.

Paramjit Singh, a resident of Busowal village in Kapurthala, and Pritpal Singh, from Patiala, showed injury marks on their lower body during a press conference arranged by the Lok Bhalai Party at Circuit House here.

“We had paid Rs 10 lakh to the travel agent who was to get us there. He took away our passports and then asked for more money. The police would wake us up every night and beat us. We were forced to walk barefoot on thorny terrains. We had nothing to eat. The water given to us for drinking was dirty. It felt like drain water,” the boys said.

The boys said their families approached the Lok Bhalai Party who got them back. They said there were two other youths who had come with them but could barely walk owing to injuries.

“The most torturous incident we had to bear there was burying the body of our friend Sukhwinder Singh from Kapurthala, who died of hunger. The Algerians did no good to us. They thought that we Punjabi guys were rich and they kept on asking us for Euros and if we did not pay, they too would beat us”.

There were more sorrowful tales of families being duped by travel agents. Mr Dharam Singh, a resident of Raipur Rayian village in Kapurthala, said he had sent his two sons to Algeria through a travel agent based at Sultanpur Lodhi. He could not get them across and they were stuck at Magnia Hills between Morocco and Algeria. His sons, Palwinder Singh and Gagandeep Singh, have been there for more than a year along with 40 other youth from Punjab waiting to be rescued. “With no work and no documents, they have no money or way to be back.”

Lakhwinder Singh of Batala has suffered even more. “I had Rs 7 lakh to a travel agent at Wariana village, Jalandhar, who promised that my son Sukhraj would get a direct flight to Italy. Instead, he landed up at Ukraine in July 2005. He was putting up with a Muslim man, Hussain, who called up us saying that Sukhraj was ill and had passed away.

The agent too confirmed that he had been cremated. But there is no way by which we can confirm it. We have not got any call from him for the last two months,” said the distraught father.

Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, President, Lok Bhalai Party, demanded a strict action against the travel agents.

He said youths should not be allowed to leave the country without a licence by the Labour Ministry. Cases of abduction, extortion, murder and conspiracy should also be registered against the travel agents.

A rally would be held at Bagha Purana in Moga on September 15 against travel agents, police, government officials and departments concerned for not coming to such youths’ rescue. He alleged that the travel agents had extorted Rs 10,000 crore from Punjabi youth in the past 15 years. About 18,000 youth had landed in jails. Nearly 1,400 were still behind bars while 1250 had been killed or died in jails. He claimed that he had helped 4,500 youths come back safely in the past seven years.

Mr Ramoowalia appreciated the efforts of Mr A.K. Tyagi, Indian Ambassador to Algeria, who extended help in the rescue of the Punjabi youths. 

Jalandhar, September 2
Two deaths due to gastroenteritis were reported from the Mithu Basti and Arjun Nagar areas here today.

Garbage had reportedly mixed with accumulated rainwater in the areas as people alleged that the water tankers also carried contaminated water, they said.

Following the breakout of gastroenteritis in the city four days back, the Jalandhar Municipal Council Commissioner, Mr S.S. Johl, denied that the outbreak was caused by the water supply. Manpreet Singh (4) of Mithu Basti had symptoms similar to gastroenteritis. He died this morning at a private hospital. Balwant Singh (45) of adjoining Arjun Nagar died at home.

Manpreet was admitted to Balbir Hospital near the Kapurthala Chowk. Dr Balbir Singh said the child’s mother told him that he had dysentery. He was brought to the hospital in critical condition.

A Bathinda boy, Manpreet was here to visit his maternal grandparents. Dr Balbir Singh added that he had received at least 10 other cases of severe gastroenteritis in his hospital from the colony in the past one month.

The Civil Surgeon, Dr Avtar Singh Jarewal, asked the District Health Officer to investigate the cases.

The deaths occurred despite the claims of health authorities of having set up medical teams in the area.

Since most of the residents of the area are uneducated, poor, the health authorities probably did not clearly ensure regular door-to-door visits. The Health Department officials blamed it on shortage of staff.

Jalandhar, September 2
Ms Parveen Bhardwaj, Principal, SD Phullarwan Girls’ Senior Secondary School, Ladowali Road, will receive the National Teachers’ Day Award from the President, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, this year.

She has been selected for her contribution in the field of education and her work to promote the diet scheme and vocational courses among the poor, needy and deserving students.

She is the wife of the Principal, Doaba College, Mr R.P. Bhardwaj.