Dollar dreams gone, 2 brothers from Kaithal struggle to put life back on rails

Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, November 17

One month after their deportation, Rajneesh (33) and his younger brother Arun (29) are yet to recover from the hardship they suffered when they were put on the infamous donkey route to reach the USA. They were among the 311 persons deported from Mexico on October 18.

“Sandeep and Praveen of Kaithal worked as travel agents. They used to say that I should send my sons, who studied till Class XII, abroad. We were reluctant initially, but they assured us that they were authorised agents,” said their father Jile Singh, a resident of Kurukshetra.

“They sought Rs 30 lakh and assured me that my sons would earn this much within a year. I sold three acres to send me sons and was left with three acres in Karnal. We gave them Rs 25.5 lakh on May 25. My sons left Kurukshetra on May 27, only to be detained at the Mexican border on August 13. They remained in a detention centre for two months,” he said.

“They took us to Moscow, from where we were taken to Havana. Through bus rides, jungles and sea, we were taken from one place to another over the next three months. In Turbo, their agents threatened us and demanded Rs 4.5 lakh more. My parents provided the money to agents in Kaithal,” said Rajneesh.

“We were provided rice, beans and beef, besides raw food, during the five months we spent there. We had no other option for food. We were kept in the Huatulco detention centre for two months before being deported to India,” he recalled.

“It has been one month, but we are still struggling with health issues. We are finding it hard to digest food. These agents have an organised gang. We have demanded that our money be returned, but they have refused to do so,” he stated.

“Two youths from Punjab and one from Pundri were with us. However, we lost contact with them later. Many persons do not report the matter expected that they will get their money back. A Kaithal youth has returned and his agent has repaid him Rs 5 lakh so far,” he said.

“Rajneesh’s son was just three days old when he and Arun left. Since then, it was the toughest phase of our lives. They have two minor children each. We have been facing acute shortage of money now,” said Darshni Devi, their mother.

“We have told them to provide the maximum details. We have asked about others who went with them so that they could also be made complainants in this case. Sincere efforts are being made and strict action will be taken against the accused,” said SP Astha Modi. A case was registered at the Thanesar City police station.