'Survived by Eating Leaves': 6 Men Brought Back to India from Russia as 'European Dream' Shatters

Two days after a flight carrying at least 276 passengers, mostly Indians, was grounded in France over suspicion of human trafficking, six men were brought back to India from Russia as they attempted to reach different destinations in Europe.

Five are from Punjab and one from Haryana, two states where immigration via “donkey” routes – an illegal way to enter countries like the US, UK and Canada as well as those in the EU – has been rampant. The youth of these two states, especially Punjab, often end up victims to criminals facilitating such journeys. And all in a desperate search for job opportunities and a better way of life abroad.

According to a report published by Times of India, the six men returned home from Russia – where they survived nine days in a jungle, were thrashed by security forces in different countries twice, and spent time in a Russian jail.

They said there were many others with them as well from Punjab, Haryana and Gujarat other than Pakistanis and Afghans. In fact, two men from Punjab – an 18-year-old and 35-year-old man – died inside the jungle after they were left there when they were no longer able to walk.

The report stated that they were brought back with the help of AAP Rajya Sabha MP Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal, who was approached by their families.

‘Two others from Punjab died inside jungle’

“We, a group of three, were flown to Oman on October 12. Thirteen days later, we were flown to Moscow, where we stayed for 5-6 days. There, another youth was added to our group. Through taxis, we were taken to Belarus, where a group of 22 men were kept in two rooms. This group included a few Pakistanis and Afghans while those from India were from Punjab, Haryana and Gujarat,” Lakhbir Singh, a Dalit Christian from Mehmuwal Mahlan village in Jalandhar district, told ToI.

Lakhbir said they were taken to a jungle from Belarus and were told that they would have to sneak into Latvia. He said they all were accompanied by three local men but their attempt to cross over failed as security personnel at the border caught them and beat them up.

Lakhbir further said the security personnel left them deep inside the jungle, from where they somehow found a way to move towards Lithuania but failed to enter the country. They even made an attempt to cross into Poland but were in poor health by that time as they did not have anything to eat and were surviving by eating leaves, he added.

An 18-year-old and a 35-year-old man, both from Punjab, were left behind as they were unable to walk, Lakhbir told ToI. “After we returned to Belarus, we were kept in rooms and were informed by the local traffickers that the two had died in the jungle,” he was quoted as saying.

‘Arrested in Russia as visa had expired’

The men were then told that they will be made to enter Finland and taken to France or Italy from there, the report stated. They were stopped by Russian forces, who found out that the visas of the six youths had expired.

“…We were arrested and put in jail. Our families then contacted Baba Seechewal and, with the efforts of Indian officials in Moscow, we were released and flown back to Delhi early on December 24. We don’t know the fate of the others,” Lakhbir was quoted as saying.

Another man in the group, 21-year-old Balwinder Singh said his destination was Spain. He and Lakhbir had paid Rs 13 lakh to their agents and had taken Rs 2 lakh with them, hoping to make it all the way to Europe. Their families had taken loans for this and were now in debt, he added.

What is the ‘donkey route’?

The “donkey route” or “donkey flight” is mostly used by residents of Punjab and Haryana. It is an illegal process to enter a foreign country and is fraught with hardships and, in most cases, pathetic travelling conditions: miles of walking on treacherous routes – be it desert, forest or grassland – or hordes loaded onto vehicles as people go without food and water for days before reaching their destinations as depicted in a BBC documentary. Many die on the way and when they do manage to cross over, struggle to return home if caught.

According to a 2014 report titled ‘Donkey Flights: Illegal Immigration from the Punjab to the United Kingdom’, published under a project by the Migration Policy Institute, “donkey flights” – based on a Punjabi idiom meaning to ‘hop from place to place’ – describes a common ploy that would-be immigrants use to enter the country of their choice through an illegal route. For example, when it comes to the UK, an Indian immigrant would apply for a tourist visa for an EU Schengen country, which allows them to roam freely in the border-free zone, with the intention of “leapfrogging” over into the UK. Hence, a person uses the back door to enter the UK via other European countries.

How does it work and why do people opt for the illegal way out?

The so-called donkey flight is one of the methods used to cheat the system despite legal pathways for immigration. But little is known about the scale or organisation of this highly clandestine business, which is flourishing in India.

A report by the Migration Policy Institute highlights how travel agents help individuals, especially from the Punjab region, in reaching desired countries abroad. According to the report, there are thousands of visa agencies operating in this region with varying degrees of legality.

“Some agencies, while breaking no rules, charge disproportionate fees for visas that could be obtained directly from the relevant embassy. Some operate in legally grey areas, such as by advising migrants on how to bend the rules. More underground operations have links to criminal smuggling networks across Europe,” the report states.

These agencies have links to a network of “consultants” spanning from Delhi through Russia, continental Europe, and the UK. Agents charge fees going up to lakhs of rupees to arrange a passage to the desired country. While there are visa agencies that go by the book or operate in legally gray areas, the more criminal part of illegal immigration is underground or based out of smaller offices. These “agencies” work in the realm of fraudulent documents, bribes and human smuggling.

Low wages and high unemployment in Punjab are two of the main reasons why large sections of people from the state go abroad on an annual basis.

The most popular country to migrate to is Canada, which is currently locked in a diplomatic tussle with India due to the alleged rise of pro-Khalistan sentiment there. But, the UK has a considerable number of Indian migrants coming in, legally or illegally, making it a massive challenge for the government.