M A I N   N E W S

106 Punjabi youths take refuge in Teheran gurdwara
Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 24
As many as 106 Punjabi youth, mostly from the Doaba, financially and mentally broke, are now looking forward to returning home, thanks to the joint efforts of the Sikh community of Teheran and the Indian Embassy in Iran.

The plight of these youth has been in media’s focus in West Asia these days after three Punjabi drivers were taken hostage in Iraq.

Most of them have frost bites and other injuries which they suffered in their abortive attempts to sneak into Europe through land sea routes. Luckily for them instead of being pushed back into Pakistan, they got into Iran where besides being provided board and lodging and medical care, they have been provided documents to facilitate their return to India.

These youths, in the age group of 18 to 35 years, were lured by travel agents back home who promised to get them settled abroad, mostly in Europe, against a fee varying between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 10 lakh per person. Most of them have been sent to Iran from Turkey after their futile attempts to enter Greece. Some of them have been in Iran since May 28 this year.

Human smuggling is a thriving business which is estimated to be worth more than Rs 1000 crore a year in India. A big group of labour agents in connivance with manpower agents in West Asia and Europe lure unemployed Punjabi youth on a promise of getting them crossed illegally into Europe. They are alleged to be operating within multiple points in the countries from where they transit like Greece, Turkey, Iran and neighbouring countries of India, they simply transfer these people to each other to get money from the families back home in India for helping through hawala network.

From the points where they are deported mainly like Greece, Lebanon, Turkey they are forcibly sent to Iran borders from here again they fall in hands of crooks who squeeze them for money to arrange them to be sent to Teheran Gurdwara Sahib.

India’s Ambassador to Iran, Mr K.C. Singh, could not be contacted as he is reportedly in New Delhi. Mr Hade, who is deputing for him, also could not be reached either on his mobile or his official telephone numbers.

The reasons they are housed in Teheran gurdwara is because there is no one to help them. They don’t have any travel documents. The Indian Embassy verifies their antecedents before they are sent back home. After Temporary Travel Certificate is issued to them, they are required to take Exit Clearance of the Iran State Police for leaving the country which again requires a process for punishment for illegal entry. Appeals of Sikh community have now made the Iranian authorities to soften their stand and impose a nominal fine on them rather than sentencing them to undergo imprisonment. They are also required to get labour office exemption clearance and also tax clearance and to arrange their tickets for return.

“Every day we have cases of deportation from Greece, Turkey and Lebanon where these people are treated in most inhuman conditions without food, clothing and water and sent to the Iranian borders. These poor victims can barely walk, are sick, suffering from hunger and pain. Some how few make it to the “Gurdwara Sahib” in Teheran where a small population of 10-odd Sikhs contributes for their welfare, including providing each one of them new clothes and basic amenities and their medical treatment,” says Mr Pervinder Singh Chandhok, an Iran-born businessman and a social worker.

“The Indian Embassy officials issue temporary certificates to them to facilitate their return to India, which is subject to paying penalties for Tax, Immigration and Ministry of Labour for clearance as they are illegal immigrants who are stranded. They do not have any money to pay and the Sikh sangat helps them as best as it can. Some of them, who are unlucky and do not manage to reach the gurdwara, are shifted to Pakistan border where they are arrested and sentenced to undergo imprisonment. In response to appeals of the Sikh community in Teheran, the local authorities do not send them to Pakistan any more,” adds Mr Chandhok holding that the problem has been growing over the years.

One of the latest groups to arrive at Teheran gurdwara had left behind one Punjabi youth after he was shot by the border police in Turkey.