Punjab, February 8:
Authorities in Punjab and Haryana have taken legal action against several travel agents accused of deceiving families of immigrants who were recently deported from the United States. The US administration deported 104 individuals for unlawful entry, prompting the Punjab Police to establish a four-member special investigation team (SIT) to probe illegal immigration and human trafficking.
Among the deportees who arrived in Amritsar on Wednesday, 33 were from Haryana, 30 from Punjab, and two from Chandigarh. While some individuals and their families have remained out of public view, others have come forward with accounts of being misled by travel agents who had assured them of legal entry into the US but instead sent them through unauthorized routes, commonly referred to as the “dunki” route.
Legal Action Against Travel Agents
In Punjab, Amritsar Rural Police has filed a case against a travel agent named Satnam Singh, who allegedly scammed 38-year-old Daler Singh, a resident of Salem Pura village. Similarly, in Haryana, police have registered FIRs against three travel agents based on complaints from two deportees and their families, accusing them of fraud and breach of trust.
According to the FIR filed at Raja Sansi police station in Amritsar, Daler Singh, formerly a driver, had aspirations of settling in the US for a better future. In 2023, he was introduced to travel agent Satnam Singh by a relative, Gursevak Singh. The agent assured him of a legal immigration process. To fund his journey, Daler borrowed money from relatives and friends and even mortgaged his farmland.
His journey took him from Dubai to Brazil, followed by an arduous trek through dense jungles in Panama. However, upon reaching the US on January 15, he was apprehended by American authorities and later deported.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Amritsar Rural, Charanjeet Singh, revealed that Daler Singh’s family had paid ₹60 lakh to the agent in multiple installments, including online transfers. The police verified the documents provided by Daler and, upon confirmation of their authenticity, registered an FIR against Satnam Singh.
Punjab’s Minister for NRI Affairs, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, emphasized that those deported from the US are not criminals but victims of fraudulent immigration agents. He stated that these agents exploited them financially, and legal proceedings have now been initiated against one such agent.
Cases in Haryana
In Karnal, Haryana, the police have also registered two FIRs against three travel agents. One complaint was filed by Shubham, a resident of Kalaram village, whose brother Akash was deported, while the other came from Sumit Singh, another deportee from Bassi village.
Sumit’s complaint led to the registration of an FIR against Pradeep Rana, a resident of Karnal, under charges of fraud, breach of trust, and violations of the Immigration Act. Sumit alleged that Rana charged him ₹40 lakh for legal immigration but instead sent him through an unauthorized route in August 2024. He stated that he crossed into the US by jumping over a fence in Mexico on January 25 but was immediately detained and later deported.
To pay the travel agent, Sumit initially borrowed ₹8 lakh from his relatives and later agreed to transfer ownership of 1.5 acres of land as part of the payment.
Shubham, on the other hand, filed a complaint against Jalandhar-based travel agent Rocky and his associate, accusing them of fraud. He alleged that the agents charged Akash ₹42.5 lakh with a promise of legal entry into the US. However, upon arrival on January 26, Akash was arrested and deported immediately.
Investigation and Future Action
Punjab’s Director General of Police, Gaurav Yadav, announced that the four-member SIT will oversee investigations and ensure action is taken against individuals involved in illegal immigration and human trafficking
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