Indians deported from US: 2 more FIRs registered against travel agents, tally touches 10

According to a Punjab Police statement, both FIRs were registered on Tuesday. The first FIR was registered against Jaskaran Singh, Mahinder Singh, Hardev Kaur and Sujan Singh, all residents of Tahli village in Tanda, Hoshiarpur district, while the second FIR was registered against Happy of Tanda in Hoshiarpur and Gill of Tarn Taran (both agents), under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Emigration Act at the NRI police station in Hoshiarpur.

The accused allegedly deceived people with false promises of facilitating illegal entry into the United States, resulting in their deportation, the statement said.

Police sources said the SIT, led by ADGP (NRI Affairs) Praveen Sinha, was looking into the complaints lodged against travel agents duping people on the false promise of illegal entry into the US. The team has recorded statements of deportees and registered FIRs against fraudulent travel agents, they said.

Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav reaffirmed the Punjab Police’s commitment to “act against the chain of fraudulent immigration networks and end the exploitation of vulnerable individuals”.

The DGP urged the citizens to come forward with information leading to the arrest of culprits. “Public cooperation is essential in dismantling these fraudulent networks. Awareness among people will help prevent them from falling prey to such fraudulent immigration consultants,” he said.

ADGP Sinha said, “The NRI Affairs Wing and the district police are working in close coordination to ensure quick and strong action against those named in the FIRs. All linkages will be examined to cripple and demolish the whole network.”

The Punjab Police, meanwhile, has advised individuals seeking immigration services “to take the legal route, only opt for licensed agents, and verify their credentials before making any commitments.”

In late 2024, Punjab Police’s NRI Affairs Wing and Cyber Crime Wing, in coordination with the Protectorate of Emigrants, Chandigarh, had booked 43 travel agencies for allegedly illegally advertising jobs abroad on social media without the requisite licence.

Meanwhile, the Chandigarh Police carried out a special drive on Wednesday against immigration companies and consultants illegally operating in the city.