Punjab Police Launches Probe into Human Trafficking
Click to start listening
Synopsis
Punjab Police has formed a four-member committee to investigate illegal human trafficking and migration linked to the deportation of Indians from the US. The committee will identify those involved and ensure accountability while collaborating with local police for a thorough inquiry.
Key Takeaways
- Punjab Police establishes a four-member committee.
- The committee focuses on illegal human trafficking and migration.
- Key officials are involved in the investigation.
- Coordinated efforts aim for effective inquiry and accountability.
- Deportation relates to individuals from various states.
Chandigarh, Feb 7 (NationPress) In an effort to tackle and investigate the illegal human trafficking and illegal migration resulting from the deportation of Indians residing in Punjab from the US, the Punjab Police established a four-member fact-finding committee on Friday.
Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav announced that the committee will be led by Additional Director General of Police (NRI Affairs) Praveen Sinha.
The committee's members include ADGP (Internal Security) Shive Kumar Verma, IGP (Provisioning) S. Boopathi, and DIG (Border Range) Satinder Singh.
This committee will concentrate on identifying those engaged in these unlawful activities and ensuring accountability for their actions, as well as pinpointing individuals involved in the illegal activities.
DGP Yadav stated that the committee has been instructed to take necessary actions per the law and facts, targeting any individual found participating in illegal migration and human trafficking.
He emphasized that the committee is empowered to include any additional police officers in the inquiry and investigation.
They will coordinate with the Senior Superintendents of Police and Police Commissioners, who have been directed to provide all necessary support and infrastructural facilities, he added.
This collaborative initiative aims to ensure a thorough and effective investigation into illegal migration. The committee is responsible for conducting inquiries to uncover the facts, identify the responsible parties, and suggest measures to combat illegal migration.
A US military aircraft carrying the first batch of 104 illegal Indian immigrants, with the largest groups being 33 each from Haryana and Gujarat, arrived in Amritsar, Punjab on February 5.
Among the deportees, 30 were residents of Punjab.
The US military C-17 aircraft landed at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport under strict security.
Three each hailed from Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, while two were from Chandigarh. The deportees included 25 women and 12 minors, the youngest being only four years old.
Forty-eight individuals were below the age of 25.
The flight, which left from Texas on Tuesday, also transported 11 crew members and 45 US officials overseeing the deportation process.
A senior Punjab official noted that most deportees from the state are from Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Jalandhar, Nawanshahr, Patiala, Mohali, and Sangrur.
Some of these individuals had entered the US illegally, while others had overstayed their visas. They were deported aboard the C-17 plane that departed from San Antonio, Texas.
This marked the initial round of deportations of illegal immigrants, coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington next week.
This will be PM Modi's first visit after Donald Trump assumed office as US President for the second time.
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar previously indicated that New Delhi is open to the legitimate return of Indian nationals living illegally abroad, including those in the US.
India has expressed its willingness to accept these migrants following verification, as conveyed by EAM Jaishankar to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio last month.
"For the first time in history, we are locating and loading illegal aliens into military aircraft and flying them back to the places from which they came," President Trump informed reporters last month.
