Thirty-four youths from Punjab and Rajasthan are stranded in Dili, Timor-Leste, after agents allegedly sent them there with false promises of jobs in Australia. Their families say the youths have been stuck for nearly five to six months with no way to return home.
The families claim that agents collected large sums of money from them — between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 11 lakh from each family — after promising to arrange employment and a better future in Australia. Instead, the youths ended up in Timor-Leste, a small island nation, with no jobs and no clear path back.
Families reach out to MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal for help
Eight of the affected families contacted Rajya Sabha MP and Padma Shri awardee Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal through a video call on Friday. They reached his dera in Sultanpur Lodhi to seek help for the safe return of their loved ones.
Seechewal, who is currently in England, responded quickly. He contacted the Ministry of External Affairs and initiated efforts to facilitate the repatriation of the stranded youths.
"The eight families alleged that agents had collected between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 11 lakh from each family after promising to arrange jobs in Australia." — Original story report
How the job scam unfolded
The pattern is familiar but devastating for the families involved. Agents approached young men from Punjab and Rajasthan with promises of a better life in Australia. They painted a picture of steady work and a bright future — a dream that many families in these states hold dear.
Trusting these promises, families paid significant sums of money — often borrowing from relatives or selling assets — to send their sons abroad. Instead of reaching Australia, the youths were taken to Timor-Leste, where they have remained stranded for months.
The families are now demanding action against the agents and urgent help to bring the youths home.
Our Take: A recurring tragedy that needs stronger action
To put it plainly, this is not an isolated incident. Time and again, we hear stories of young Indians being duped by agents who promise foreign jobs and deliver nothing but misery. The amounts involved — Rs 5 lakh to Rs 11 lakh per family — are not small change. For many rural families in Punjab and Rajasthan, this is life savings, borrowed money, and years of hard work.
What makes this case particularly troubling is the destination. Timor-Leste is not Australia. The youths were clearly misled from the start. The agents knew exactly what they were doing — collecting money and abandoning their victims in a foreign country.
The quick response from MP Seechewal is commendable. By contacting the Ministry of External Affairs, he has set the process of repatriation in motion. But the bigger question remains: what will happen to the agents who did this?
Families must come forward and file formal complaints so that law enforcement can track down these agents. Without legal action, the same agents will continue to target more families with the same false promises.
For now, the priority is clear — bring the 34 youths home safely. After that, there must be accountability. No family should have to go through this pain, and no agent should be allowed to profit from such cruelty.
