Over 20 Punjabi youths feared dead in Panama boat capsize, says ‘survivor’

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 17

More than 20 Punjabi youths are feared dead near the US border after their boat capsized in a river near Panama, a “survivor” has said. The youths were reportedly headed to the US illegally in a boat when the incident occurred.

The Kapurthala police have booked a travel agent who took the youths abroad, under Sections 420 and 406 of the IPC on a complaint of a youth’s family.

Father of one of the youths who is feared drowned said he came to know about the incident from the relatives of a “survivor”.

Two of the youths hailed from Kapurthala. Gurjit Singh of Tandi Aulakh village and Gurvinder Singh of Jaid village were reportedly on the boat to the US.

Bachan Singh, father of Gurvinder, said, “We got to know about the incident on January 12-13 after the word spread that the boat my son had boarded has capsized. On January 15, I visited relatives of Sonu, a youth from Luroi village (under Begowal police station) who reportedly survived the incident. Sonu had called up his family from abroad. His wife told me that my son Gurvinder and another youth, Gurjit Singh from Tandi Aulakh village, were among 22 to 24 youths feared drowned.”

Bachan Singh said Sonu told his family that he was saved by a local who took him to her home and from where he made a call to them.

Gurvinder Singh who had cleared class 12 two years ago was unemployed. Bachan Singh alleged that a travel agent, Kulwinder Singh Multani, lured him into sending his son to the US.

'Paid Rs 10 lakh to travel agent'

A deal was fixed at Rs 25 lakh, of which, Bachan said, he has already paid Rs 10 lakh. Gurvinder left India on October 15 last year and talked to his family last on January 10.

The family also submitted a complaint to Kapurthala SSP Rajinder Singh this afternoon. The SSP confirmed that an FIR had been lodged against the agent and the police were looking for him.

Bachan said on January 10, Gurvinder had told him he was starting from Turbo in Columbia and asked his parents not to call him for 8-10 days.

Bachan who works as a domestic help said he had sold his land and borrowed money from relatives to arrange money for sending Gurvinder abroad. Accusing the travel agent of duping him, Bachan said the agent had told the family the youths will not be sent via the sea route.

The incident was brought to light by AAP leader and former Congress MLA Sukhpal Khaira at a press conference here today after a family approached him in connection with the incident.

Khaira demanded that the Centre should immediately intervene in the matter and investigate the incident besides ascertaining the whereabouts of the youths. Khaira said the Punjab government should also start an investigation immediately.