Singapore dream turns sour for city resident

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, Febraury 6

A city resident has allegedly been duped of Rs 4 lakh on the pretext of sending his daughter to Singapore.

In a complaint lodged by Gursewak Singh, a resident of Joganand village, it has been stated that the accused, Avtar Singh, a resident of Joganand village, and Rohit Kumar (agent), a resident of Jagadhri in Haryana, had duped him of Rs 4 lakh.

Gursewak said the accused had promised to send his daughter abroad by completing all legal formalities. However, they did not keep their promise once they received the money.

The Thermal Plant police have registered a case against the accused under Sections 420 and 120-B of the IPC. However, no arrests have been made in the case so far.

Cases relating to travel fraud are on the rise in the region. Most of the victims lost a considerable amount of money that they had gathered either by selling their land, working overtime or taking loans. In spite of them approaching the police, there is hardly any chance of getting the money back.

Police officials said the proliferation of unregistered immigration consultants in the region in the past few years and lack of awareness among public had led to the increase in the immigration fraud cases.