Punjab Police have registered eight FIRs against fraudulent immigration agents following the deportation of Indian citizens, mostly from Punjab, from the United States. The state police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the issue of illegal human trafficking that led to the deportation.
The deportation occurred on February 5, when a US military aircraft carrying 104 Indian nationals, who had entered the US illegally, landed at Amritsar airport. This marked the first batch of deportations as part of a larger crackdown on illegal immigration by the Trump administration. Of the 104 deportees, 30 were from Punjab.
The deported individuals revealed in their statements that fraudulent travel agents misled them by promising illegal entry into the US, leading to the filing of the FIRs. These agents reportedly took advantage of the victims’ desperation and defrauded them, leaving them stranded and deported.
A team of senior police officers, including Additional Director General of Police (NRI Affairs) Praveen Sinha, Inspector General of Police (Provisioning) S Boopathi, and Deputy Inspector General (Border Range) Satinder Singh, are overseeing the SIT. The team is working closely with police commissioners and senior superintendents of police from various districts and commissionerates to bring the offenders to justice.
The SIT is investigating the illegal immigration network and ensuring strict legal action against those responsible. Police officials have met with deportees personally to address their concerns and gather further information.
Punjab’s Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav has expressed the state police’s commitment to dismantling the network of fraudulent immigration consultants. He has stressed the importance of accountability and legal action against individuals involved in illegal human trafficking.
This crackdown is part of an ongoing effort by the Punjab Police to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation by illegal immigration rackets. Authorities are determined to end the illegal trafficking that often preys on individuals seeking better opportunities abroad. The police have promised to continue working with the SIT to ensure justice for the deportees and prevent further fraudulent activities.
