By Alkesh Sharma
Jalandhar (Punjab), Sep 23 (IANS) Representatives of Lok Bhalai Party (LBP) Wednesday submitted a memorandum to district administration in this Punjab city to highlight the plight of over 220 illegal immigrants stranded in various countries while trying to get to Spain and Italy.

“Unscrupulous travel agents, from across Punjab, betrayed these innocent men and charged anything between Rs.200,000 to Rs.1 million for sending them abroad. They had promised them jobs with high salaries, accommodation and free medical facilities,” Ramandeep Singh Bhurowal, general secretary of LBP, told IANS after submitting a memorandum to Jalandhar deputy commissioner here.

LBP, in its petition, has said that 65 Punjabi youths are stuck in Libya, 63 in a Spanish jail and nearly 90 men in Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Bhurowal said that six youth died in Saudi Arabia due to very unhygienic conditions there.

“However, they (agents) did not take them to Spain or Italy (the promised destinations) but left them on the way. In case of Iran and Saudi Arabia, youths have no jobs and they are living solely on the mercy of touts stationed there,” he said.

Families of stranded youths took out a protest march here Wednesday.

Ajit Singh Pannu, Jalandhar deputy commissioner, said: “We received their memorandum today. This is a very serious issue and we have assured them of all help in taking up their case.”

Most of these youths stuck abroad are from middle class and lower middle class families, who had taken hefty loans, either from private money-lenders or from banks, to send them abroad.

In some cases, families do not have any clue about their sons for the past five-six years.

“My son Balwinder Singh (25) had gone to Libya six months back after paying a travel agent Rs.150,000. He was promised a job of carpenter with a salary of Rs.25,000,” Bimla Devi, a mother and resident of a village in this district, told IANS.

“However, there is no job and my son is forced to do odd work there. He has got no salary for the past six months and they give him food just once a day. If they oppose, then the agents beat them mercilessly,” she added.

LBP president Balwant Singh Ramoowalia said, “We want the government to take strict action against these fake travel agents, who are running their business from small shops. Many of them disappear after cheating people of millions of rupees.”

The LBP, in its appeal, asked the district administration to approach Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and also demanded an immediate intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and concerned union ministry in this matter.