Deportees from US reluctant to complain against travel agents, but have one request for Punjab Police

“We were taken aback when we received calls from some deportees with a request to be kept away from media glare as journalists were approaching them to know how they reached the US and through which agent,” said a senior officer, who did not want to be named.

Calling the deportees “willing victims”, the officer said it appeared that the travel agents got in touch with them immediately after they arrived in India and asked them not to reveal details. “We feel that some promises have been made to deportees who are not coming forward to lodge complaints. This may be in the shape of a pledge to again send them abroad to some other Western country or to refund their money partially,” the officer said.

Some deportees are also learnt to have locked up their houses and left for their relatives’ houses in other towns and villages so that they can remain anonymous and away from questions by friends as well as the media.

The police said initial investigations show the claims made by some deportees that they paid a large amount of money up to Rs 1 crore or even more for taking them to the US may not be true. “People making these claims should be able to provide proof of funds which they may have paid. Our initial estimate is that these claims are inflated,” an officer said.

They also said that a false rumour is being spread by the travel agents through the deportees, claiming that the main base for sending people via the ‘dunki’ route is in Dubai. “We feel that it is curated information which is being put out in the public domain to mislead the police as well as the general public. More will come out when the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted to investigate the scam looks into all angles,” the officer said.

The Punjab Police have constituted a four-member SIT to probe the nexus of illegal travel agents involved in human trafficking and illegal migration. The SIT is headed by Praveen Sinha, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), who oversees NRI affairs. The other members include Shive Kumar Verma, ADGP (Internal Security); Dr S Boopathi, Inspector General of Police (Provisioning); and Satinder Singh, Deputy Inspector General (Border Range).

Gaurav Yadav, Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, said the fact-finding committee has been directed to take appropriate action against any person found to be involved in committing illegalities and indulging in illegal migration or human trafficking.

Yadav said the panel can include any other police officer in the investigation process. It is also responsible for coordinating with the relevant senior superintendents and police commissioners, who have been instructed to provide all necessary assistance and infrastructure support to the committee.