Punjab and Haryana Police initiate action against travel agents as deportees file complaints
PTC Web Desk Following the forced deportation of 104 Indians from the United States, including 31 from Punjab, the police have launched a crackdown on illegal immigration rackets. The first case has been registered at Raja Sansi police station in Amritsar against an agent identified as Satnam Singh, a resident of Kotli Khehra village.
The action follows a complaint filed by Daler Singh, a resident of Salempur, who was among those deported. Punjab Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal also met Daler Singh to discuss the issue.
Daler Singh revealed that his journey to the US began on August 15, 2024, when he left his home with high hopes. A travel agent assured him of a legitimate visa but instead routed him through Dubai and Brazil.
Stranded in Brazil for two months, Singh and others were initially promised legal visa arrangements. However, agents later insisted that the only way forward was the dangerous 'Donkey Route'—an illegal pathway involving treacherous terrains.
Daler Singh and others, including Nepalese nationals and women, were forced to navigate the 120-km-long Panama jungle, one of the world’s most perilous routes. The journey took over three and a half days, with limited food and water.
"Our group of 8-10 people followed a local guide, but every step carried the risk of death," Singh recounted. He described the journey as harrowing, confirming that films depicting this ordeal are entirely accurate.
After crossing the Panama jungle, the group reached Mexico and attempted to enter the US. through the Tijuana border. However, on January 15, 2025, U.S. authorities arrested them, crushing their American dream.
Singh disclosed that two agents—one from Dubai and another from India—were responsible for orchestrating the scam. The agents charged Rs 45 lakh ($54,000), falsely assuring a secure and legal entry into the US.
Meanwhile, in Haryana's Karnal, the police have registered an FIR against four agents under the Immigration Act based on complaints from three persons who were deported from the United States. The FIRs have been lodged at Madhuban, Ram Nagar, and Assandh police stations. However, the police have not disclosed the names of the complainants or the accused. The DSP said several immigration fraud cases had been registered in the past, and multiple agents involved in illegal migration (Kabootarbazi) had already been arrested. The police are currently investigating the matter.
- PTC NEWS
