Atul Sharma
Early Times Report
Jammu, May 28: A pall of gloom descended over RS Pura village after a young man who had travelled abroad in search of a better future died under mysterious circumstances in Dubai, triggering outrage against travel agents allegedly exploiting unemployed youth with false promises of lucrative jobs overseas.
The body of the deceased reached his native place and was cremated on Thursday in the presence of a large number of locals.
The deceased has been identified as Ravi Kumar, a resident of Maheluwal village in the RS Pura area of Jammu district.
His family received the devastating news of his death on Sunday, plunging the household into grief and shock.
Family members alleged that Ravi had gone to Dubai in December 2025 after being assured of a well-paying job by a local agent. However, after reaching Dubai, he was allegedly informed that he would instead be shifted to Georgia for employment, following which the agent reportedly continued demanding more money from the family on different pretexts.
According to the family, nearly Rs 7 lakh was paid to the agent in multiple instalments in the hope of securing Ravi’s future abroad. Despite the huge payment, Ravi allegedly faced severe hardships and remained under constant mental stress.
“Instead of a better life, my son got trapped in misery. Today, he is yearning for a shroud,” Ravi’s grieving mother said while demanding justice and the immediate return of her son’s body to India.
Relatives said Ravi often spoke during phone calls about the difficult conditions he was facing abroad and his deteriorating mental state. However, the family never imagined that the situation would end in tragedy.
The circumstances surrounding Ravi’s death remain unclear, and the family claimed they have not received any satisfactory explanation from authorities or the agent regarding how he died.
Following the incident, the bereaved family, accompanied by several local residents, reached the police station in RS Pura and lodged a formal complaint against the agent accused of sending Ravi abroad.
The protesters alleged that several agents were duping unemployed youth by luring them with dreams of high-paying foreign jobs while extorting huge sums of money from desperate families. They demanded strict legal action against those involved in the alleged fraud racket.
The family and local residents also urged the administration to conduct a fair and transparent investigation into the case.
Officials of Jammu and Kashmir Police said a complaint had been received and an investigation into the matter had been initiated. Police said they were examining the role of the agent and verifying all circumstances related to Ravi’s travel abroad and subsequent death. |