Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday sought Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s intervention into the death or murder of Kapurthala-resident Sunil Kumar allegedly at the hands of human trafficking gang in the jungles of Columbia.
AAP MlA and the leader of Opposition in Vidhan Sabha Sukhpal Singh Khaira, in a letter, requested Capt Amarinder to take up Sunil Kumar’s case with the Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and take stringent action against the responsible travel agents.
At the same time, Khaira took the opportunity to remind the Chief Minister regarding his electoral promise to enact a law to legitimize the issue of immigration to different parts of the world. “You had promised to disband the entire illegal travel agents paraphernalia in Punjab and had suggested to set up a Department that would help our youth to migrate legitimately,” he added.
Khaira said that Sunil Kumar, Nadala village resident, has been reportedly killed by gang of human traffickers in the jungles of Columbia, while on way to USA border illegally. The said boy was taken from his home on April 24 on a promise to settle him in USA, he said.
“The local travel agents, involved in misleading the family and charging them Rs 20 lakhs to reach USA, are Jasvir Singh, Harjinder Kaur — both resident of Tandi Dakhli village, and Suraj alias leo a Jalandhar resident,” said Khaira.
Khaira said that Kumar’s family informed him that he sustained serious injuries on his leg while being taken through the jungles of Columbia through a root called “donkey”.
“There are many other boys belonging to Punjab who were part of this group being taken by human traffickers to the USA border. They have sent pictures of his injured leg and his dead body to the family, stating that since Sunil Kumar could not walk any longer, he was killed by his captors, that is the human trafficking gang,” said Khaira, who has also sent pictures to the Chief Minister in this regard.
AAP leader said that there was a lot of resentment in his constituency, Bholath, over Sunil Kumar’s alarming death and his family was in the state of shock looking for justice. “I am saddened to state that the family has not only lost a son but have also been fleeced of Rs 20 lakhs by the accused travel agents and there is no scope of his body being traced either,” he said.
He requested the Chief Minister to take up the case with External Affairs Minister so that his body can be traced and brought back to his family. “I also demand that stringent action be taken against the unscrupulous travel agents, who exploited the family of the victim Sunil Kumar and ultimately landed him in the jaws of death,” he added.