Dunki route: Punjab man goes missing after boat capsizes while trying to enter UK
The family said that Arvinder moved to Portugal on a work permit visa on May 18. He completed his biometric process on September 5 and was initially planning to settle there legally. However, after coming in contact with some other people in Portugal, he was influenced to take the illegal route to the UK, commonly known as the "dunki route".
New Delhi: A 29-year-old man from Punjab's Jalandhar district has gone missing on October 1. He was reportedly one of the illegal immigrants from a group of 8o people who were travelling on a boat over the English Channel from France to England. The missing person, identified as Arvinder Singh, is a resident of Bhattnura Lubana village in Punjab’s Jalandhar district.
The people were trying to reach the UK through the so-called dunki route. Reports say that the boat sank midway, leading to chaos and anxiety among the travellers. All the other people except Arvinder have been rescued.
Not an usual missing case
The family said that Arvinder moved to Portugal on a work permit visa on May 18. He completed his biometric process on September 5 and was initially planning to settle there legally. However, after coming in contact with some other people in Portugal, he was influenced to take the illegal route to the UK, commonly known as the "dunki route”.
Initially, the group of youths decided to cross the channel through a truck, but the driver refused to take them due to legal restraints. The younger brother, Ashwinder Singh added that his brother, along with the other men, then decided to travel on a boat. When Arvinder revealed his plans to the family, they refuted it. The family had the last conversation with Arvinder on September 29. They came to know about the incident on October 2.
Arvinder’s family members found out about the incident on October 2 when a person from Chohana village in Kapurthala contacted them. He claimed that Arvinder was travelling with him on the same boat. He informed them that everyone on board was rescued except Arvinder. The Kapurthala man also confirmed that five Punjabis were on the boat, TOI reported.
Adampur MLA extends support to family
Adampur MLA Sukhwinder Singh Kotli claimed the family that he will raise the matter with both the state and central governments to seek assistance in locating Arvinder and getting further information through diplomatic channels.
The "dunky route" or "Donkey Route" (also seen as 'Donkey Route' or 'Dunki' route) is a dangerous, illegal, and perilous journey taken by several Indian people, particularly from the states of Punjab and Haryana, to reach the United States through multiple countries. This method involves traveling through various borders and facing significant dangers, including human trafficking, from smuggling agents who are called "donkers".