Youths allege torture for 7 days in Russian jail, two agents booked

The Ludhaina police have registered a case against two travel agents for allegedly duping four youths of Patiala, Khanna, Ferozepur and Nawanshahr of Rs 14.29 lakh by sending them to Russia.

The accused agents got the youths admitted to a blacklisted college in Moscow, from where they were detained.

The youths were lodged in a jail where they faced torture for seven days. The authorities allegedly forced them to eat beef and tried to recruit them into the Russian army to fight against Ukraine. When they were deported, the authorities refused to return their cash and belongings.

The accused were identified as brothers Gurpreet Singh and Sandeep Singh, owners of Khalsa Immigration and Education Consultant, GTB Nagar 33 Feet Road, Jamalpur, Ludhiana.

The complainant, Sahil Singh, a resident of Azad Nagar on Sirhind Road in Patiala, said he, along with three youths, had contacted the agents after reading an advertisement on Instagram.

The accused allegedly promised the youths admission in a valid college in Russia, for which they all paid Rs 14.29 lakh to the accused in cash and through online transactions. The complainant alleged that after they reached Russia, they were detained by the authorities from the college. After questioning them, they were lodged in a jail where they were subjected to torture. Even turbans of Sikh youths were forcibly removed.

Sahil Singh alleged that one of the accused agents had reportedly left the country, while the other continued to issue them threats. The accused agent also filed a counter-complaint against him to pressurise them.

Sahil revealed that on November 14, they were deported to India and lodged a plaint against the agents. He demanded the immediate arrest of the accused agents. Other three who were duped were identified as Rawat Bhatti of Ferozepur, Ram Kataria of Nawanshahr and Gurjant Singh of Khanna.

Rawat Bhatti said there were around 30 to 35 youths from the country. including 10 from Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, in Russia. He said they were fortunate to have returned alive to their country, demanding no mercy for the agents.