Jailed for flouting visa norms, 150 Punjabis return from Malaysia

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 11

A group of 150 residents of Punjab, most of whom had been languishing in camps in Malaysia after the completion of their jail sentences for illegal stay, today arrived at Sri

Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport.

On board a chartered flight, they landed at the airport in the afternoon. This was the first batch of residents with more expected to reach India soon as the Malaysian government has agreed to repatriate 350 people after Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal took up the issue with the Malaysian High Commissioner as well as the External Affairs Minister.

The residents claim they had been duped by travel agents who had taken them to Malaysia on the pretext of giving them employment. They had to fend for themselves and in the process, they overstayed in Malaysia after the expiry of their visas.

Earlier, Malaysian Helping Hands, an NGO headed by Paul Dholli, had brought the issue into the notice of the Youth Akali Dal through its Punjab representative Rajwant Kaur. The families of the affected youth had met Harsimrat and YAD secretary general Sarabjot Singh Sabi.

‘Duped by agents’

• The residents claim they were duped by travel agents who had taken them to Malaysia on the pretext of giving them employment.
• They had to fend for themselves and in the process, they overstayed in Malaysia after the expiry of their visas.