Stepping up its efforts against fraudulent immigration networks, the Punjab Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) has registered two more FIRs against travel agents accused of deceiving individuals with false promises of illegal entry into the United States. With this, the total number of FIRs in the crackdown has reached 10, marking a significant escalation in the campaign against human trafficking and immigration fraud.
The latest FIRs — both registered on February 11, 2025 —were registered at the NRI Police Station in Hoshiarpur. The accused in the first case include Jaskaran Singh, Mahinder Singh, Hardev Kaur, and Sujan Singh — all residents of Tahli in Tanda, Hoshiarpur district. The second FIR names agent Happy of Tanda, Hoshiarpur; and agent Gill of Tarn Taran. They face charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Emigration Act for their alleged involvement in sending people abroad illegally, resulting in deportations and financial losses for their victims.
The SIT, led by ADGP NRI Affairs Praveen Sinha, has been gathering evidence from deportees who were misled by unscrupulous travel agents. Many of these victims were promised smooth passage to the US but instead found themselves stranded, detained, or deported after spending lakhs of rupees on fraudulent arrangements. The police have recorded multiple statements from deportees and their families to build a strong case against the accused.
The state DGP Gaurav Yadav reaffirmed the Punjab Police’s commitment to dismantling fraudulent immigration networks that exploit vulnerable individuals. “We are fully committed to taking stringent action against all travel agents engaged in illegal immigration rackets. Public cooperation is crucial in identifying and arresting these culprits,” he said.
DGP Yadav also urged citizens to verify the credentials of immigration agents before making payments and to report suspicious activities to the authorities. “We need to raise awareness so that others do not fall prey to these fraudulent immigration consultants,” he added.
ADGP Sinha said that both the NRI Affairs Wing and district police are working in close coordination to ensure swift action against those named in the FIRs. “We are examining all forward and backward linkages to dismantle the entire network of illegal immigration,” he said, indicating that more arrests and FIRs could follow in the coming days.
The Punjab Police has issued a strong advisory, urging aspiring migrants to seek legal avenues for immigration. Officials have warned against trusting unauthorized agents who operate without licenses and manipulate unsuspecting individuals with false promises of work permits, asylum status, or easy access to the US and other countries.
The crackdown comes in the wake of a larger probe initiated in late 2024, when the Punjab Police’s NRI Affairs Wing and Cyber Crime Wing, in collaboration with the Protectorate of Emigrants, Chandigarh, booked 43 travel agencies for illegally advertising overseas job opportunities on social media without the required licenses.
