PAINFUL STORY OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM INDIA IN FRANCE

                                      

                                         

                                      

DUPED BY HUMAN TRAFFICKERS  POSING AS IMMIGRATION AGENTS  IN INDIA..

( All mobile camera photos by Avtar Mota ..Topmost photo...Grave of  Jean Paul Sartre )

In May 2023, I was travelling from Gare du Nord to Alfortville,Paris  in a metro train. A young Indian traveller sitting on the opposite seat was weeping inconsolably to the astonishment of other passengers. I asked a  lady sitting next to me as to what had happened to him. She replied  in French ,"Je ne sais pas pourquoi. Vous lui demandez s'il vous plaît" meaning ,"I don't know  why . You ask him please ." 

 Knowing my limitations in French language, I replied ," Parlez vous anglais" meaning ,'Do you speak English . She said ," oui " meaning ,'yes' .  I said , "  Si jai la reponse, je vous en ferai part " meaning,' if I get some response , I shall let you know' . And then I asked the youngman the reason for his weeping. He was reluctant and continued weeping. I  could see innocence visible on his face . He was from Punjab  . I moved to his seat , offered him my  water bottle  and put my arm over his shoulders.  I started my conversation in English but he was not comfortable. I started  talking to him in Punjabi as spoken in Majha region of Punjab as  he was from some vilage in  Gurdaspur . The youngman narrated that he had received information that his mother had died yesterday but he couldn't travel to India as he neither had passport nor  proper papers. He was illegal immigrant duped by some relative who had promised good  job and good life to him in Europe about  7 years back. This relative had directed him to a Jalandhar based agent who took a  hefty sum of 14 lakhs from him  . His father had raised Kissan Krishi Card loan and sold some land to  pay to the agent. He had come to Europe via Russia and Ukraine walking at night and hiding during daytime  through a network of human traffickers . He along with six boys entered Romania and finally landed in Paris via Portugal. Their passports were taken by the agent in Portugal and he had nothing except his mobile .  In Paris, he lived with ten other boys who had similar story . Only 2 had managed Portuguese passports after 15 years  and only after paying about 6000 Euros each  to some agent . Other eight were simply illegal immigrants making their living by selling mineral water or wine bottles to tourists in parks or gardens of Paris city. He added that he loved his mother and wanted to see her face but he had nothing with him to buy proper ticket . Any attempt to travel could land him in  prison and he could be deported after serving prison term. All the ten lived in 3 rooms in the outskirts of Paris city  . Their life was cooking, washing, sleeping and begging people to buy water or  wine and avoid police . He was not sure if at all he shall get resident status anywhere in Europe . There was no way to return to India. I consoled him .  The French lady heard the story and turned pensive . She took out a packet of  chocolate from her bag and gave it to the youngman. Looking at me she said, " c'est un problème humain. il doit y en avoir beaucoup comme lui. Les gouvernements devraient leur offrir une option unique de retour honorable." meaning ,'This is a human problem. There must be many like him.  Governments should give them  onetime option  of honourable return.'

( Avtar Mota )

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