Armenian police aware of four stranded Indian nationals

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. Armenian police and the foreign ministry of India are closely monitoring the case of four Indian nationals who appear to be stranded in Armenia as result of fraudulent Indian travel agents.

The Armenian police said they are aware of the matter and noted that the individuals have been deceived in India.

“The Armenian police is aware of the information,” police spokesperson Ashot Aharonyan told ARMENPRESS, referring to an article by Hindustan Times describing how the four Indian nationals have appealed for help.

“The mentioned information is about a crime committed in the territory of India,” he said.

According to the Hindustan Times, four Indian youths stuck in Armenia have uploaded a video on social media requesting India’s Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann to bring them back. Kapurthala (Punjab) police have booked six people, for fraudulently sending the four men to Armenia on tourist visa in December last year after promising work visa, according to Hindustan Times.

India’s foreign minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted later that she is also aware of the situation.

“I have seen the news report in Daily Hindustan dated 7th February reg four Indians from Punjab who are stranded in Armenia. Indian Ambassador in Armenia has reached them and is providing all help and assistance”, she said on Twitter.

Swaraj also said she spoke with Punjab’s police chief to apprehend the fraudulent travel agents. “He has promised immediate action on the matter”, she said.

In an alarming article titled - ‘Haven’t eaten in 5 days’: 4 Punjab youth trapped in Armenia send video SOS – the Hindustan Times reported that the four Indian nationals have not had anything to eat for five days and that their landlord is demanding them to leave their home, apparently due to failure to pay the rent.

According to the newspaper, the four Indian citizens have said that a group of seven travel agents from Dhilwan and Patti duped them of Rs 4 lakh each and fraudulently sent them on tourist visa to Armenia.

In 2018, the number of Indian nationals who have been granted residency permits was 1882. 25 received permanent residency status.

The growth in inbound citizens from India in the recent years to Armenia is also associated with visa policy.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan