Duped, youth lands in Thai police custody

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 14

Desire to settle in Canada has cost a Punjabi youth dear who after being duped by two illegal travel agents is now staying in the custody of the Thailand Police. The victim, identified as Karanvir Singh Gill, had left his village on June 2, this year, for Canada. However, due to fake visa documents, he was detained at the Thailand airport and the authorities there sent him to police custody. Since then, the 22-year old could not set himself free due to fake visa documents.

The father of the victim, Sukhbir Singh Gill, a resident of  Lallian village, Phillaur, while approaching the district rural police today sought immediate action against the travel agents, who as per him, was absconding. Struggling to get his son out of the Thailand police custody for the past four months, he said the agent had duped him of Rs 5 lakh.

While talking to The Tribune, Sukhbir said: “He contacted the two Delhi-based travel agents, Sukhwinder Singh and Balwinder Singh, after recommendation from one of his friends. Subsequently, after verifying their credibility, he and his son visited them in Delhi and the total charges were fixed at Rs 20 lakh to send his son to Canada on a tourist visa and an  advance payment of Rs 5 lakh  was made to Sukhwinder before the scheduled departure of his son. The agents assured him that the visa would be given to him after reaching Thailand. Hence, when Karanvir reached Thailand, Balwinder  gave him the Canadian visa. However, when he boarded the flight for Canada, the police claimed that the visa documents were fake and arrested him.

“When I again contacted the agents to correct the documents, Balwinder again took Rs 2,20,000 in two instalments, but to no avail,” said Sukhbir, who wanted to aware other residents to not to fall into the trap of illegal travel agents.

Meanwhile, SP (Investigation), Sarbjit Singh, said  he had marked his complaint and assured action.