Rescued youth from Armenia unhappy with police action

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, February 15

Four youth, who were brought back by Sangrur AAP MP Bhagwant Mann from Armenia last week, today alleged that the travel agents who had duped them had duped many others, who were still stuck in Armenia. They expressed dissatisfaction over the police action against the accused.

Mann said he would take up the matter with the state government for the extradition of one of the accused, Harpreet Kaur, from Armenia.

“Though after the interference of the MP, the police have registered a case against the travel agents, they are yet to be arrested. The agents are threatening us with dire consequences if we do not withdraw our complaint,” alleged Harmanjeet Singh in the presence of MP Mann in Sangrur. Another youth Jatinder Pal Singh alleged that he was beaten up by accused in Armenia after they got to know that he and others had complained against them to the MP.

“The police must arrest all accused to save other youngsters. We all paid Rs 4 lakh each and were promised work permits in Armenia. But after we landed there, agents snatched our passports and locked us in a room,” alleged Jatinder.

They had reached Armenia on December 9 on a four-month tourist visa, but when they started demanding jobs, they were allegedly locked up in a room. Finally, they came back on February 9. The rescued youth are Harmanjeet, Jatinder Pal Singh, Shamsher Singh and his wife Pinky.