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Time of India
24-05-2025
- Time of India
South Indian youth lured & left stranded by ‘dunki' agents from Punjab, Haryana
Hyderabad: Young individuals from parts of southern India are falling victim to fraudulent agents promising illegal migration routes to the United States. These so-called 'dunki agents', a colloquial term referring to unauthorised immigration, have been exploiting the aspirations of students and job seekers, charging exorbitant fees with false promises of swift relocation. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now These agents mainly belong to Punjab and Haryana. "I gave 12.5 lakh to an agent who claimed to have sent dozens to the US through Mexico. He was from Haryana. He said everything — tickets, fake visas, shelter — would be arranged in a month. That was in early 2022," said Karthik Reddy*, a 24-year-old from Warangal, who quit his undergraduate studies to prepare for the supposed journey. "I kept following up for six months, and he kept delaying. Then sometime last year, he just randomly sent me a ticket to El Salvador but did not give me any information. I tried calling again, but he never picked up my call again," he added. Another victim, Mohammed Imran* from Hyderabad shared a similar story. "They showed us fake testimonials and photos of people who supposedly reached the US. I trusted them. My parents sold land to pay the 12 lakh they demanded. Now, the number is switched off. I cannot even seek help from the police," he revealed, adding, "I am ashamed to even tell my relatives. Everyone thinks I'm in America. I have been hiding the truth for over a year. " The victims allege that agents take advantage of their desperation — fuelled by unemployment and dreams of a better life abroad — and operate freely across urban and rural pockets of the twin Telugu states . "I was even sent a photo of my supposed accommodation in El Paso. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now I later discovered it was a random image lifted from Google," said Lakshmi Narayan*, a final-year engineering student from Raichur district in Karnataka. Many have been left in deep financial distress, with no sign of a refund or recourse. These personal accounts mirror a broader trend. According to the Pew Research Center, as of 2022, there were approximately 6.75 lakh unauthorised Indian immigrants in the US, making India the third-largest source of illegal immigrants after Mexico and El Salvador. For those like Karthik, however, the damage is already done. "All I wanted was a chance to work and support my family. Now, I don't even have the courage to try for a visa the legal way," he said. *Names have been changed to protect identities
Hans India
10-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Jewellery & Gem Fair takes off in Hyd
Hyderabad: The 17th edition of Hyderabad Jewellery Pearl & Gem Fair (HJF 2025), organized by Informa Markets in India, commenced here at Hall 4, Hitex on Friday. The event lived up to its legacy of being South India's most influential B2B jewellery trade platform, bringing together thousands of jewellers, designers, manufacturers, and retailers from across the country and abroad, with a strategic focus on wedding and festive season buying ahead of Diwali. The inaugural ceremony was graced by eminent dignitaries including Karthik Reddy, National Media Panelist, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), Varghese Alukka, Managing Director, Jos Alukka's. Among other dignitaries were Avinash Gupta, Vice Chairman, GJC; Mahendra Tayal, President, HJMA; Mukesh Agarwal, Vice President, HJMA; Dr Chetan Kumar Mehta, President, JAB; Kailash Charan, President, Twin Cities Jewellers Association, Jagdish Pershad Varma, President, Telangana Bullion, Gem &Jewellery Federation; Parasmal Ranka, President, Telangana Pawn Broker Jewellers Association; Ashok Shermal Jain, President, Pot Market Jewellers Association; Sumesh Wadhera, Managing Director, AOJ; Rajendra Jain, Managing Director, SVAR; Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets in India; Pallavi Mehra, Senior Group Director, Informa Markets India in India; and, Pankaj Shende, Group Director, Informa Markets in India. Supported by industry associations like the Hi-Tech City Jewellery Manufacturers Association (HJMA), Telangana Bullion Gems &Jewellers Federation (TBJA), for Telangana Pawn Brokers & Jewellers Association, and Pot Market Jewellers Association, the fair plays a pivotal role in driving growth for the southern jewellery market and is a crucial sourcing platform for the wedding and festive season, with buyers from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Maharashtra forming the core audience.
