Farmer ends life after travel agent fails to return ₹10 lakh

Had taken money in 2013 for helping him go abroad and settle there, sister of deceased alleges in police complaint

A 37-year-old farmer who attempted suicide at Bhaini Sahib village by consuming poison on Friday died in hospital on Saturday night.

The farmer in a suicide note said he was taking the extreme step as a travel agent who had taken ₹10 lakh from him to help him go abroad was not returning the money (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A suicide note recovered by the police said he was taking the extreme step as a travel agent who had taken ₹10 lakh from him to help him go abroad was not returning the money.

The travel agent, Gurinder Singh of Sahnewal Khurd village, was arrested following a complaint filed by the farmer’s sister.

She told the police that the travel agent was a friend of her brother and had promised to arrange for a work permit for him. In 2013, after taking ₹10 lakh from her brother, Gurinder sent him to the UK on a tourist visa, but failed to organise a work permit after he returned to India.

Despite her brother’s entreaties, Gurinder refused to return the money and, upset with the developments, he took his life, she said.

Assistant sub-inspector Sahib Singh, who is investigating the case, said that the police had registered a case against the accused under section 306 (abetment to suicide) and efforts were being made to arrest him.