US Deportees Forgo Complaints Against Travel Agents
Police in the Doaba region have received just two complaints against illegal immigration agents following recent deportations from the US. Officials believe many deportees are holding back from filing complaints in hopes of recovering their money.
A police source explained that several agents are covertly approaching families to negotiate deals and promise refunds, a strategy that deters victims from lodging formal complaints. “Many of these illegal agents have built up considerable wealth over the years, which enables them to reach out to the victims directly,” an officer said on condition of anonymity.
Between January 5 and 16, three US military planes landed at Amritsar International Airport carrying over 300 Indians. Among those deported were 127 Punjabis, including 52 from the Doaba region—which encompasses the Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, and Nawanshahr districts. Notably, the two registered complaints came from residents of Kapurthala.
Manjit Singh, the uncle of Nishan Singh from Chakoki village and one of the complainants, recounted that his nephew was taken to the US through an illegal channel despite assurances of a legitimate process. “The agents charged extra money, and now, after returning from the US, our son is in a difficult situation. Our family has spent a significant amount on his migration, and we might even have to sell our land to clear our debts. The agents must be held accountable,” he said.
Jalandhar Senior Superintendent of Police HPS Khakh noted, “We have been counseling many families and reaching out to them, but so far, no one has filed a complaint. We are patiently investigating and waiting for people to come forward.” Similarly, Nawanshahr Detective Superintendent Mukesh Kumar mentioned that none of the three returnees from the US had lodged a formal complaint. Hoshiarpur Detective Superintendent Sarabjit Bahia added that while they are prepared to take strict action if any complaint is received, cases can only be registered if the victims step forward.
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