Punjab youth dies in UAE; kin allege foulplay

Ashok Kaura
Phagwara, December 18

A pall of gloom descended in Sargundhi village near Goraya here when the news of the death of a village youth, Gagandeep Bagga, 24, who was allegedly murdered in the UAE reached the village.

The father of the deceased youth, Des Raj, was informed about the demise of his son late on Tuesday evening.

Villagers in large numbers gathered to meet and condole the death of the deceased youth.

Des Raj, who was in deep shock, told this correspondent that his son was murdered in the UAE.

He said he sent his son to the UAE to earn livelihood on April 17 with the help of a Nasrala-based travel agent who assured them to provide a suitable job.

Des Raj alleged that the company where his son was employed as a plumber did not pay him as per commitment.

He said his son contacted with him on phone on August 21 and told him that he had left the job after feeling harassed by the employers.

Des Raj said after that, the family could not contact him and even his younger sister, residing in the UAE, did not know the whereabouts of Gagandeep.

Des Raj said his younger son Pawandeep went to UAE on September 27 and returned on October 23 without any news of his whereabouts.

Pawandeep said they received a phone call from a CID officer in the UAE on October 30 who asked him to send photo copies and ID proof of Gagandeep.

He contacted his sister who contacted the police there and recognised the decomposed body.

Later the UAE police could match the DNA samples of his sister and confirmed the identity. Des Raj said the body of his deceased could be brought on Thursday in the village by his daughter from UAE.