The victim, Malkit, who belonged to Mataur village, had a farming background. He had left home in mid-February, but his family lost contact with him when he reached Guatemala on March 7. Malkit is survived by his parents, younger brother and married sister.
Shattered on seeing the video, the family, which had paid 40 lakh to a tout, Ishwar Singh, a native of Saungal village, approached the office of the superintendent of police to seek help to get Malkit’s body back to India. His parents alleged that the tout is a terminated cop who has been duping people on the pretext of sending them abroad.
Rajeev, Malkit’s younger brother told media persons: “We had paid him Rs 25 lakh in advance after borrowing money from an arhtiya (commission agent). Malkit was taken through Kazakhstan to Turkiye, but his phone was disconnected once he reached Guatemala. We came to know about his death through social media, and it appears to be a murder. The tout has planned his murder and strict action should be taken against him.”
Malkit’s father Satpal rued that youths are forcing their parents to send them abroad after they failed in getting jobs in India. The government should stop such illegal agents and ensure jobs for youths here, ” he said.
A case under sections of the Indian Penal Code and Immigration Act has been registered at Kaithal city police station against the tout and two other persons. Ajmer Singh, investigation officer of the case, said on Friday evening that a complaint has been received from a family member of the deceased against tout Ishwar Singh, and the matter is being investigated.