Happy, tearful re-union as 7 Punjabi youths stuck in Iraq return home

Ashok Kaura
Phagwara, July 28

It was a joyous yet tearful moment for the families of seven youths, who after remaining stranded in Iraq for months, arrived at their native places on Sunday.

Narrating tales of their suffering, the youths told the media at Phillaur that they will never ever think again of going abroad to earn a livelihood.

SAD MLA Baldev Singh Khaira who was also present on the occasion said he will raise the issue of unscrupulous travel agents in the Vidhan Sabha during the session begining August 2. He urged the government to take firm steps to put such travel agents behind the bars and ensure the duped youths got their money back.

Phagwara youth Komaljit, son of labourer Mohan Lal, had an advice to those nurturing ‘phoren’ dreams. “It is better to work hard in home country to earn a livelihood than becoming a beggar abroad,” Komaljit said as he arrived at his house in Kaulsar locality.

He said 15 youths — eight of them Pakistanis — were hiding and living in a room in Iraq as an aide of travel agents had taken their passports and IDs.

Komaljit, who along with others remained in Iraq for eight months, said they did not work at all due to fear of being caught by Iraqi police as they were without passports. When they demanded their passports back, he asked $9,600 in return. Finally, the youths contacted their families  in Punjab who approached the Union Government.

Of the seven Punjabi youths, five were from Phillaur and one each from Phagwara and Bholath. They were duped by a woman agent, Neelam Rani, who along with her relative Ram Labhaya had promised them jobs in Iraq.

Though the Phillaur police had registered several cases under Sections 420 and 406 of the IPC against Neelam Rani and Ram Labhaya, both residents of Shotran village, on May 30, they have not been arrested so far.