Punjab forms SIT after US deportations to probe human trafficking and illegal migration

The Punjab Police on Friday constituted a four-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the issue of human trafficking and illegal migration in the wake of deportation of 104 Indians, including 30 Punjabis, from the United States.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said Parveen Sinha, ADGP NRI, will head this fact-finding committee. Other members include ADGP/Internal Security Shive Verma, IGP/Provisioning Dr S Boopathi, and DIG Border Range Satinder Singh

He said the committee has been tasked with taking appropriate action as per law against any person involved in illegal migration or human trafficking.

It has been empowered to co-opt any other police officer in the investigation, and will maintain coordination with the concerned SSPs/CP, who have been directed to provide all the required assistance and infrastructural facilities to SIT.

This move comes after several cases of immigration fraud were reported in Punjab. In December 2024, three travel agents were booked in Ludhiana for cheating people of lakhs of rupees by promising them visas and jobs abroad.

The police filed cases against Sachin Punj of Lakshmi Nagar and Neha of Welcome Immigration, Ferozepur Road, on the complaint of Ankita Sharma, who alleged that they took Rs 6 lakh in instalments but neither arranged a visa nor returned the money. Similarly, Rubina of New Kitchlu Nagar was booked for taking Rs 8.50 lakh to send a client to Canada but only provided a fake visa.

Just few days ago, the Punjab Police registered a case against Satnam Singh of Kotli Khehra village on the complaint of Daler Singh of Salempura village in Rajasansi, Amritsar. Daler alleged that Satnam had promised to send him to the US on a valid visa but instead sent him illegally. Daler endured hardships, including navigating treacherous trails in the Panama jungles. He paid Rs 60 lakh to Satnam but was sent via the donkey route.

In Haryana, police have already registered an FIR against four agents under the Immigration Act based on complaints from three persons who were deported from the US.