FIRs against travel agents, after deportation of 104 Indians from US. Days after 104 Indians were deported from the United States, police in Punjab and Haryana have intensified action against illegal immigration, registering four FIRs against travel agents involved in human trafficking. While three cases were lodged in Karnal, one was registered in Amritsar. The Punjab Police have also set up a four-member special investigation team (SIT) to probe illegal migration networks.
In Amritsar, an FIR was registered against a fraudulent travel agent, Satnam Singh, following a complaint by deportee Daler Singh of Salempura village. Daler alleged that Satnam charged him ₹60 lakh, promising a valid US visa, but instead routed him through Panama and Mexico using the ‘dunki’ method. He was taken into custody by US authorities on January 15. SSP Charanjit Singh Sohal of Amritsar (Rural) confirmed that the case was registered under Sections 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 13 of the Punjab Travel Professionals (Regulation) Act. Four unidentified agents were booked by Karnal police.
Another FIR was lodged against a Mumbai-based agent under IPC Sections 120B, 370, 406, 420, 506, and Section 24 of the Immigration Act on a complaint by deportee Manoj, who claimed he was cheated of ₹48 lakh before he reached the US on January 25. A case was separately lodged at Madhuban police station against a Jalandhar-based agent accused of duping complainant Shubham’s family of several lakhs on the pretext of sending his brother Aakash to the US. The third FIR registered at Assandh police station in Karnal was lodged on the complaint by Sumit Singh of Bassi against two agents based in Karnal. According to the available information, a case was initiated under Sections 316(2) and 318(4) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Agencies have increased crackdowns on their human trafficking gangs while investigations go on.
