Release of girls from 'custody' of fake recruitment agent sought

Jalandhar, Oct 23 (UNI) Lok Bhalia Party President and former Union Minister Balwant Singh Ramoowalia today urged the Goa Government to intervene to secure the safe release and return of eight Punjabi girls who were allegedly ''hoodwinked'' and kept in a hotel in Panaji by a fake recruitment agent.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Ramoowalia said that these girls, mostly from Ludhiana district of Punjab, were taken to Goa by an agent with promise to get them recruited as nurses in the Indian Army.

In fact, 21 girls were taken to Goa on the pretext of recruitment and medical examination and 13 of them, who were allegedly kept in confinement in a Panji hotel, somehow succeeded in freeing themselves with the help of the father of one victim, he added.

Mr Ramoowalia said that eight of the girls were still in the ''custody'' of the agent.

He said that he was in touch with the Chief Minister and the Director General of Police of Goa in this connection and demanded appropriate action against the guilty agent.

He also urged the Punjab Government to take action against such fake recruitment agents who were indulged in cheating of innocent and poor unemployed youths.

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