Punjabis asked not to go to the Philippines

Chandigarh, May 12 (UNI) The Ministry for Overseas Indian Affairs has asked the Punjab government to discourage people of the state from going to the Philippines as Punjabis, particularly those in the money lending business, are being targeted by Filipinos.

The suggestion from the Ministry follows a report sent by the Indian Ambassabor in Manila that the Indians from rural areas of Punjab, who had migrated to the Philippines, were operating as money lenders there.

Their activities had created resentment among the native Filipinos and the press of that country was critical of their business activities.

In the last four to five years about 50 odd Punjabis, most of them from the Doaba belt of Punjab, had been murdered in the Philippines.

This year alone six people, all of them from Kapurthala district, lost their lives in that country. A majority of these murders were committed in and around Manila.

Acting on the instructions of the Overseas Ministry, the Punjab government today sent a communique to all the Deputy Commissioners, asking them to discourage people from the state from migrating to the Philippines for engaging in money lending business as this trade was highly risk-prone.

Refering to the report of the Indian ambassador in Manila, the Overseas Ministry has stated that there are also reports that Indians in the Philipines were joining mafia gangs comprising of Chinese/Filipinos. These gangs are engaged in extortion and kidnapping.

Keeping in view the facts, Mr N S Kalsi, Commissioner NRI Affairs, Punjab, has urged the district administration to create awareness on the issue so that the Punjabis who were willing to migrate to the Philippines for indulging in money lending business could be discouraged.

UNI HS AK RS1837