Chandigarh-The Haryana Police arrested 1,018 people in illegal immigration-related cases over 18 months till October 31 this year. The arrests were carried out after a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed in April 2023.
A total of 2,606 cases related to fake travel agents and illegal immigration have been registered in Haryana during the past six years. In 2019, 213 cases were registered, followed by 582 in 2020, 183 in 2021, 300 in 2022, 750 in 2023, and 578 by the end of October this year. Karnal district has recorded the highest number of cases with 658 in the past six years. During this period, Kurukshetra saw 574 cases, Ambala 457, Kaithal 256, Yamunanagar 217, and Panipat 106 cases.
The police say, a helpline number – 8053003400 – has been launched, and an officer of the DSP rank has been designated as the nodal officer in each district in view of the gravity of these cases. Simultaneously, senior police officers including superintendents of police have been issued directives to tighten the noose on travel agents. They have been instructed to monitor the number of complaints received, FIRs registered, criminals apprehended, and the amount of recovery from criminals. There is also a provision to attach the house, shop, and other property of travel agents who engage in illegal immigration activities.
Modus operandi
Travel agents entice unemployed individuals with promises of jobs and send them abroad on education visas and work visas. Often, after the individual pays the money and applies for a visa, they are informed that their visa has been rejected. The travel agent then suggests the ‘donkey route’. During this process, most individuals are apprehended at the border, imprisoned, and deported back to India. In some cases, victims are illegally held captive, and their families are pressured to pay more money. Additionally, travel agents may provide fake tickets and fake visas, leading to the individual being denied air travel. Sometimes, individuals are misled by fake job offers and documents presented through emails, etc. Moreover, agents may send individuals to countries like Russia and Ukraine by claiming that they will obtain a visa for another country.
What is illegal immigration?
When a person, in violation of immigration laws, leaves their country of origin and goes to reside in another country, it is called illegal immigration. This is a sensitive and important issue. Often, innocent, and unemployed youth are trapped in the web of illegal immigration in the name of getting jobs abroad. The police say the number of such cases is relatively high in Punjab and Haryana. In Haryana, the police say, there has been an increase in cases of illegal immigration every year in the past six years. The number of people from rural areas involved in such cases is relatively high. However, the police say a decrease in such cases is being seen in 2024 due to the strict action taken by them.
Haryana DGP’s appeal
Haryana DGP Shatrujeet Kapur says people should be wary of such fraudulent travel agents and should not trust any travel agent without investigation. He further says that for the convenience of the common people, a list of authorised and unauthorised travel agents has been uploaded on the Haryana Police website – https://haryanapolice.gov.in/login. In addition, if a person still becomes a victim of such fraud, they should immediately inform the nearest police station or helpline number (8053003400). He warns that even a slight negligence on the part of a person can not only wipe out their life’s savings but also endanger the lives of their families.(The Indian Express)