Cheated by kin, NRIs seek relief at police camp

Wednesday, 19/12/2012

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121219/punjab.htm#4

Bathinda : They endeavoured to maintain some connection with their mother land either through property or via marriage. But what they got in return was fraud played on them mostly by their trusted friends and relatives.

This was the story of most of the 500 complaints received from NRIs at a “Khula Darbar” organised by the Bathinda Zonal police here today.

Sixty-seven-year-old Sukhdev Singh, an NRI and a veteran of two wars, seems to be fighting a losing battle against his close relatives who allegedly took over his property in Moga. He claimed he had built that property over decades by saving each penny he earned as a driver and a painter in Iraq and later in the US.

“I went abroad after retiring from the Indian Army. I had fought in the 1965 and 1971 wars. I sent money to my father and brother back home for constructing a house. At times, I worked for 36 hours continuously and saved money even on a cup of tea only to be duped,” he said.

Similar cases of cheating figured among the complaints, although marital disputes also came up.

A board of police officials, headed by IG-Bathinda Zone NS Dhillon, heard the complainants. DIG Parmod Ban along with SSPs of the district concerned too listened to the complainants.

Dhillon said the case of Sukhdev Singh was sub-judice, but the police would also look into those parts of the complaints where police action could be taken.

Ajaib Singh Dhillon, an NRI from Hong Kong belonging to Pitho village, alleged a Faridkot trader duped him by selling him Emu birds worth Rs 23 lakh with the promise that he would buy the eggs.

“The eggs are rotting. Each egg costs between Rs 1,200 and Rs 2,000. I am unable to sell them in the market also,” he said, pleading for police intervention. Dhillon asked Faridkot SSP Gurpreet Singh to inquire the matter.

There were some complaints where the local police was helpless. Such cases were either sub-judice or the incidents had taken place outside the country.

There were many instances where police inquiries were completed and the cases filed but the complainants were not satisfied.

One such case was of Australia-based Parminder Kaur. Her brother Jaideep Singh, a software engineer, and mother Jasbir Kaur claimed that the police was not registering a dowry case against Parminder’s in-laws.

Muktsar police officials said IG (NRIs) Gurpreet Deo had already inquired the matter and found no substance to register a case.

A majority of the complaints were from Moga and Ferozepur districts with least from Mansa district. Dhillon said about 500 complaints were received. “We have assured time-bound action in cognisable complaints. We tried to give our best advice to other complainants,” he said.

The SP, headquarters, of seven districts - Bathinda, Mansa, Fazilka, Faridkot, Muktsar, Ferozepur and Moga - had been made nodal officers for hearing NRI-related matters, he added.