New Delhi: Seventeen Indian youths, primarily hailing from Punjab and Haryana, have been released from imprisonment in Tripoli, Libya. The release took place on Saturday, marking the end of a distressing six-month ordeal caused by unscrupulous travel agents based in Punjab and Delhi. These agents had deceitfully promised the youth job opportunities in Italy.
Vikramjit Singh Sahney, a Member of Parliament, had tirelessly worked to secure the release of these individuals over the course of several months.
The unfortunate situation arose when certain travel agents from Punjab and Delhi swindled each youth out of approximately Rs 11 lakh, falsely guaranteeing them well-paying jobs in Italy. The youths had embarked on their journey from India in February 2023, and their route took them through Dubai and Egypt before ultimately landing them in Libya’s Zuwara City. In Libya, they faced dire conditions, including deprivation of basic necessities like food and water, as well as physical abuse.
The police took custody of the youths on June 15 and placed them in a detention facility in Zuwara. Subsequently, efforts were undertaken to secure legal representation for them. Sahney confirmed the successful completion of this process, which paved the way for the youths’ release from jail by Libyan authorities. They were then accommodated in the camp office of the Port of Illegal Immigrants in Tripoli. Arrangements are being made to provide them with necessary travel documents, such as Emergency Certificates, to facilitate their safe and smooth repatriation to India.
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