Boat mishap: No Indian was killed says govt but 2 travel agents booked

Bhag Singh said in his complaint that his son gave Rs 1.5 lakh to New Delhi-based agent Satnam for safe passage to Turkey. From there, Greece-based Gurmeet Singh, originally from Bakkapur village, was to make arrangements for his journey for Rs 2 lakh.

Phone calls home from some of the seven men who survived the tragedy, according to family members, said two Greek coast guard ships had responded to their SOS. Patwinder Singh, a survivor from Mithapur village in Jalandhar and now reportedly in police custody in Greece, called up his family to tell how the overloaded boat from Turkey capsized.

His cousin, Jatinder Kumar Sabi, from Khotran Kalan village in Banga, is missing and feared drowned. His mother, Kamaljit Kaur, is hoping against hope that Sabi was rescued by one of the two Greek ships. The police have also recorded the statements of Satnam Kalsi and Yashpal on how Sabi went missing.

The families of Patwinder and Sabi said the same travel agents, Satnam and Gurmeet Singh, were paid to arrange for their safe passage. Sabi’s relatives have been trying to get in touch with Satnam, whose only contact was a mobile phone number.

And as no news or help comes from the government, some parents have taken to seeking ‘‘divine help’’. Sabi’s family is one of them. It has been calling in babas and holding puja at their home. Mohinder Kaur of village Musapur hopes her ‘‘missing’’ son, Mukhtiar Singh, will be back home soon. Mukhtair last called his family from Turkey a couple of days before the mishap, said Mohinder’s sister, Manjit Kaur.