In a distressing case of exploitation abroad, two men from Pattar Kalan in Jalandhar have returned home after being duped by travel agents and held captive in Iraq under deplorable conditions.
Gurpreet Singh and Sodhi Ram, both local residents, had invested heavily in the promise of secure employment in Kuwait. The duo had taken out loans of ₹1.85 lakh each, believing that their journey overseas would secure a better future for their families. Instead, they found themselves ensnared in a web of deceit, as the travel agents diverted them to Iraq—a country far removed from the promised destination.
Once in Iraq, the two men were forced into grueling labor by company officials who maintained a stranglehold over their every move. They were subjected to inhumane conditions, where even a single day in captivity was described as feeling like an entire year. With no access to proper food, wages withheld, and essential medical care denied, the situation rapidly deteriorated into one of severe exploitation.
The ordeal took an even darker turn when the captors coerced Gurpreet and Sodhi into signing a series of documents, actions that appeared designed to legally shield the perpetrators of this scam. Isolated, desperate, and with little hope of escape, the men’s plight seemed destined to continue—until intervention from an unexpected quarter provided a lifeline.
Rajya Sabha MP and noted environmentalist Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal emerged as a pivotal figure in their rescue. After the families, already burdened by financial hardships, reached out on March 15, Seechewal acted swiftly. Coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy, he set in motion a rescue operation that culminated in the safe repatriation of the two men on March 28—just 14 days after the families’ initial plea for help.
Expressing gratitude, Seechewal acknowledged the prompt action of the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy, underscoring the importance of vigilance for job seekers heading overseas. “This incident is a harsh reminder that vulnerable individuals, particularly those from economically weaker backgrounds, must exercise extreme caution before entrusting their dreams to unscrupulous agents,” he stated.
In light of these events, Seechewal has called upon law enforcement agencies to intensify efforts against fraudulent travel agents and to ensure strict punitive measures for those found exploiting the desperate aspirations of job seekers. The incident not only highlights the need for greater regulatory oversight in the recruitment process for overseas employment but also serves as a cautionary tale for many who aspire to seek better opportunities abroad.
As the community in Jalandhar and across Punjab reflects on this distressing ordeal, the hope remains that enhanced awareness and tighter legal scrutiny will prevent similar tragedies in the future.
