Ludhiana, March 20, 2017: (By Raju William) As many as seven youths from Khanna and Chandigarh are stranded in Thailand allegedly after being cheated by the travel agent of a Chandigarh based travel agency.
After reaching Pattaya on February 3 on 14-day tourist visa, they were deserted by the agent identified as Gurjit Singh Grewal of Grewal Tours and Travels, who had also flown in along with them. The agency has its office close to Passport Office, Chandgarh in Sector 34.
He went incommunicado since February 16 allegedly after taking away their passports and Rs one lakh from each one on the pretext of getting them visa extension. As per Thai law, the visa can be extended only for seven days after paying requisite fee equal to the Indian Rs 3800.
They lodged a complaint at Pattaya City Police Station on March 18 after all their efforts to search Grewal failed. He was staying in the same hotel these youths had checked in.
Foreign Police Volunteer (FPV) Amardeep Singh who works at Pattaya City Police Station confirmed the case to babushahi.com over phone from Thailand on Monday.
The youths have been identified as Iqbal Singh (29), Dilmanpreet Singh Mangat (25), Rashandeep Singh (21), Paramjit Singh (31), Pardeep Singh Gill (25), Bhawanpreet Singh (18) and Bimalroop Singh (22).
It is learnt that each youth had paid about Rs one lakh at Chandigarh to the agent before flying into Thailand.
( Copy of the Complaint against the Chandigarh Travel agent filed with Pattaya Police )
The stranded youths have no money with them. They have been guided to approach the Indian Embassy for help on Monday with the copy of the police complaint.