Get Paid, With Interest

Fifty Punjabis have been killed in the Philippines in the last two years by locals who owed them money. In ’06, there have been 15 deaths, Navin Sharma being the latest. His body was cremated in his native village last fortnight. Punjabis got into the money-lending business in Philippines in the last decade or so, and it’s bringing the community a bad name there. In fact, so much so that the Indian ambassador to Philippines informed the Centre that Punjabi money-lenders and their activities have come in for much criticism in the Filipino papers. There is also evidence of them joining the mafia engaged in kidnappings and extortions. Punjab minister for nri affairs, Amarijit S. Samra, has now issued an advisory against migrating to the island. But advisories have never deterred the Punjabi. It’s estimated that around 70,000 Indians are there in the Philippines. And most of them are shopkeepers, who are also into money-lending at high interest.