42 Indian youths missing for 15 years after taking ‘dunky route’ to US: Report
Chandigarh: About 40 youths from Punjab, part of the 102 Indians who attempted to reach the United States through the ‘dunky route’ in 2010, have been missing for the past 15 years, according to a recent report.
Ravinder Singh, son of Daljit Singh of Taprian village in Fategarh Sahib district, left for the US on September 15, 2010. Since then, his family has had no contact with him, The New Indian Express reported on Saturday.
Daljit Singh shared that Ravinder, who worked as a driver, aspired to go abroad for better job opportunities. The family connected with travel agents based in Panchkula, finalising a deal for Rs 20 lakh, of which Rs 5 lakh was paid as advance. The agents initially assured the family that the group would be taken directly to Mexico before entering the US. However, the journey began from Delhi to Managua, where another agent received them. An additional Rs 5 lakh was then demanded and paid.
“After 10 days we came to know that he and others had reached Guatemala city. These agents asked for remaining Rs 10 lakh and we paid them Rs 7 lakh. We were then told that once our son reached the US, they would call us back. But he has not spoken to us till date,’’ Singh told TNIE.
He further revealed that despite filing a complaint against the agents, local police refused to register an FIR. Recently, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) collected blood samples from the family, while the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has questioned them multiple times regarding the case.
Sukhpreet Grewal, the advocate of these families whose children have gone missing, said the case was disposed of by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2023 and the CBI had registered the case.
Grewal said that a total of 102 youths from India embarked on this journey in 2010 via the ‘dunky route’; 42 of them from Punjab never reached their destination, and no one knows when they last contacted their families.
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Kohli's U-19 teammate Amanpreet Singh Gill dies at 36
New Delhi (PTI): Former India U-19 and Punjab medium pacer Amanpreet Singh Gill died at the age of 36 in Chandigarh on Wednesday, leaving the cricket fraternity in mourning.
The cause of death is not yet known.
Gill, who was Virat Kohli's U-19 teammate, featured in six first-class matches for Punjab, picking up 11 wickets.
He was also part of the Punjab franchise (Kings XI Punjab) in the inaugural Indian Premier League season, and later served as a member of Punjab's senior selection committee.
"Punjab Cricket Association deeply mourns the sad demise of Amanpreet Singh Gill, former Punjab cricketer and Member, Senior Selection Committee Punjab,” the Punjab Cricket Association announced on X.
"Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and loved ones. May Waheguru grant eternal peace to the departed soul and strength to the family in this difficult time."
Two-time World Cup-winning India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh also paid tribute to Gill.
"Deeply saddened to hear about Amanpreet Singh Gill’s passing. Shared the dressing room in our early days, he was a quiet, hardworking cricketer who loved the game. My heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. Rest in peace Om Shanti,” Singh posted on X.
Gill played five Youth ODIs and one Youth Test for India in 2007.
In the longer format, he claimed the wicket of former Sri Lanka all-rounder Thisara Perera.
However, he did not make the Virat Kohli-led India U-19 side that went on to win the 2008 World Cup.
“Deeply saddened by the passing of Amanpreet Singh Shergill, who proudly represented Punjab and was a part of the Punjab Kings family. Our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and the entire cricketing fraternity,” Punjab Kings posted on their official Instagram account.
