3 travel agents arrested for fraud

Tribune News Service

Mandi, December 10

The police yesterday arrested three travel agents for sending 14 youths of Mandi district to Saudi Arabia on the false promise of job.

The matter came to light a few days back when the youths landed in trouble after reaching at Riyadh.

The arrested accused are Kadar Ali, Mohamad Assif and Abdul Vassem, all native of Mandi district. The families of the victims alleged that the accused had charged Rs 90,000 from each youth for sending them abroad. After they landed in Saudi Arabia, the youths were subjected to long working hours on low wages by their company owner.

Three of the youths returned to India yesterday, while the rest are expecting help from the Central Government to ensure their early return to India.

Saroj Kumari, wife of Harjinder Singh, had lodged a complaint with police on November 30 at Sundernagar police station against the accused saying that they had defrauded her husband and 13 other youths of the district by promising them lucrative jobs in Saudi Arabia.

All 14 youths were sent to Saudi Arabia on July 18 on a three-month tourist visa, where they were provided jobs in a construction company. They were assured by the travel agents that after completion of the three months, the company owner would extend their work visa.

Unfortunately, the company owner refused to extend their visas, which landed them in trouble. They all surrendered before the police at Riyadh after which they were locked up.

The victims’ families approached Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and Sundernagar MLA Rakesh Jamwal, urging them to take up the matter with the Centre for their safe return.

The Chief Minister raised the issue with the Centre. As a result, three youths have been brought back to India, while efforts are on to bring others back.

Taranjeet Singh, DSP, Sundernagar, confirming the arrests, said the accused would be produced before court tomorrow to seek a police remand. Investigation was under way and police were looking at all aspects of the case.