Parents advised youth to study in UK, he wanted to join friends in US

Parents of 20-year-old Pawanpreet Singh were against his idea of taking the “dunki route” to go abroad.

Instead, they wanted him to go to England for studies. “He had cleared IELTS (English language test) with 6 bands. He could have gone there legally. It would have been the best decision for him,” said Narinder Singh, the youth’s father.

However, Pawanpreet’s family had to give in to his demand. Pawanpreet’s father sold his property and took heavy loan to pay travel agents.

The youth, a resident of Kala Sanghian village here, said he was “influenced” by his friends.

“My friends, who had gone to the US, told me that there was nothing to worry about and it would be a safe journey. This is how I got so desperate to go there that it became my ultimate aim,” said Pawanpreet.

“There are 10-15 people from Punjab who are still stuck in Mexico,” he told The Tribune.

It took him eight months to reach the US after he left India on June 14 last year. “My flight first landed in Ghana, where I remained for two months. From Ghana, I was taken to Suriname in South America. This is the place where our journey started,” the youth said.

He was then taken to Columbia where after spending five months, he entered the Panama jungles.

Pawanpreet said a Shahkot-based travel agent had promised him that he would reach the US in 15 days.

“I walked for two continuous days without food in Panama jungles. It was a deadly walk. We were going in groups. We were told not to stop at all, else we would have gone missing. My parents’ advice kept coming to my mind. But it was too late by then,” he said.

Now, the youth, a Class 12 pass-out, said he would help his father in farming.

Pawanpreet is also a local gatka player. “I love acting as well,” he said.