2 more cases lodged against travel agents

A special investigation team of the Punjab Police, formed to probe human trafficking, has registered two more cases against immigration agents. So far, the police have lodged 10 cases in this regard.

The police had formed the four-member special investigation team (SIT) on February 7, two days after a US military flight carrying 104 deportees, including 30 state residents, landed at Amritsar’s Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport.

The latest FIRs have been registered for allegedly deceiving people with false promises of facilitating their illegal entry into the US. Those booked have been identified as Jaskaran Singh, Mahinder Singh, Hardev Kaur, Sujan Singh and Happy, all residents of Hoshiarpur’s Tanda; and agent Gill of Tarn Taran.

Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav has urged all citizens to come forward with any information that could help in arresting such travel agents.

“Public cooperation is essential in dismantling these fraudulent networks,” he said.

Additional Director General of Police (NRI Affairs) Praveen Sinha said they are working in close coordination with district police chiefs to demolish the network facilitating illegal migrations.

Last year, the police had booked 43 travel agencies for illegally advertising jobs abroad on social media without requisite licences.