Punjabi youth returns home after being jailed in Turkey
Tue, 08/10/2010 - 06:53 by Manmeet kaur
Sarabjit Singh is a resident of Dulhana Kalan village, who had left for Greece on July 2. But he was caught mid-way by Turkey police and taken into custody.
He arrived at Delhi International Airport from where he boarded the bus for his village.
About Sarabjit Singh's arrest
Sarabjit Singh is the only brother among his seven sisters and he is a father of a year old son. He has gone abroad to earn money so that he can make both ends meet.
He didn't complete his school and had worked as an auto electrician at Khamano near Chandigarh before leaving for Greece.
Sarabjit has paid a heavy amount to a travel agent, who promised him a lucrative job in Greece.
He confirmed the sources the he had boarded a plane for Turkey via Doha from Amritsar airport last month.
When Sarabjit reached Turkey, he was taken to a hotel where he met another Punjabi youth named Balwinder Singh. The agents took boys and girls in a vehicle to get them into Greece.
On the border area, the agents and driver ran away on seeing the police, leaving them stranded.
One of the youth named Sukhwinder Singh from Jalandhar was shot dead in the firing. But Sarabjit and Balwinder Singh of Amritsar were arrested and sent to jail.
Efforts by Lok Bhalai Party
Sarabjit's father Harbhjan Singh, met Lok Bhalai Party (LBP) leader Avtar Singh Mullanpuri, who further discussed the matter with party's national president and former Union Minister Balwant Singh Ramoowalia.
The reports say that Ramoowalia has taken up the issue with Indian embassy at Turkey.
On return of Sarabjit, Mullanpuri said, “We contacted the Indian consulate in Turkey and made arrangements for Sarabjit's return. He reached New Delhi yesterday (Sunday) and today (Monday) he has returned to his home.”
“There is another Punjabi youth, Balwinder Singh, resident of a village in Amritsar district, who is still locked up Istanbul jail. All formalities have been completed for his return and he is waiting for the travel agent to deliver the air-ticket,” he added.
