 "No more ‘dunki’? How Punjab is cracking down on illegal travel agents")
Punjab has intensified its crackdown on fake travel agents following the recent deportation of Indian immigrants from the US.
For years, these agents have exploited the aspirations of young Punjabis, using various means such as student visas, fraudulent marriages, and the risky ‘ Dunki Route’ to send people abroad through illegal channels.
With over 300 illegal immigrants recently sent back from the US—most of them from Punjab—the state government is tightening its grip on those facilitating unlawful migration.
What actions are being taken? How do these illegal operations function? Here’s a closer look.
Licenses cancelled, notices issued
In a major crackdown on illegal travel agents, authorities in Amritsar have cancelled the licences of 40 agents following a complaint against their unauthorised operations, NDTV reported.
The complaint was filed by Sarabjit Singh, who brought the matter to the attention of Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sahni. Acting on the complaint, Sahni ordered strict action against these agents.
Meanwhile, in Jalandhar district, 271 travel agents who failed to renew their licences have been served show-cause notices. The crackdown has also extended to certain IELTS centres suspected of involvement in irregular activities.
According to sources cited by NDTV, police are actively registering cases against travel agents involved in illegal migration, with raids being carried out to apprehend offenders.
The Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) have been directed to inspect the documents of travel agents and immigration consultants. Additionally, district police have been instructed to promptly report any complaints to the Deputy Commissioner’s office for swift action, India Today reported.
Hoshiarpur Police is investigating various travel agents across the district. Action will be taken as per law against travel agents involved in illegal activities, fraud and deception. #YourSafetyOurPriority pic.twitter.com/PKzvvejElg
— Hoshiarpur Police (@PP_Hoshiarpur) February 24, 2025
NRI Minister Kuldeep Dhaliwal told India Today TV that between February 5 and 23, 17 FIRs have been filed against such unlicensed agents. “We have been strict and we are taking action against anyone who files a written complaint. We have been tough on these agents,” he said.
Travel agents have now been instructed to maintain proper records and ensure their documentation is complete. Speaking to The Tribune, Deputy Commissioner Dr Himanshu Aggarwal stated, “Strict action will be taken against those failing to abide by the law. In future, those who violate norms may face additional action or cancellation of licences.”
More action expected in coming days
According to sources cited by India Today, authorities are expected to take further action against unscrupulous travel agents in the coming days.
Punjab has already recorded 3,225 FIRs against travel agents over the past three years, with more than 1,100 cases registered under the Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act, 2012.
The highest number of cases was reported by SAS Nagar Police in Mohali (398), followed by the Jalandhar Police Commissionerate (375), Hoshiarpur Police (293), and Patiala Police (235). Other key areas include Ludhiana Police Commissionerate (228), the NRI Wing of the Punjab Police (190), Amritsar Police Commissionerate (188), Jalandhar (Rural) Police (141), and SBS Nagar Police (127).
Several arrests have been made in connection with these cases, including that of Punjabi singer Fatehjit Singh, who was apprehended in September last year.
Captain SP Singh, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Immigration and Education Consultants (ALIEC), highlighted a key challenge in regulating fake agents. Speaking to The New Indian Express, he explained, “As per the Act, travel agents are required to display their license number prominently outside their offices and in advertisements. However, illegal agents are predominantly active on social media platforms, making it difficult to trace their backgrounds.
“This makes it easier for them to deceive vulnerable individuals. We urge that advertisements on social media be regulated under this Act and be subject to scrutiny.”
Punjabis top the US deportation list
Government sources reveal that Punjabis make up the largest share of Indians being deported from the United States.
Three flights carrying deported Indians arrived in Amritsar on February 5, February 15, and February 16. Of the 333 returnees, 126—or 37.8 per cent—were from Punjab, sources told NDTV.
Illegal immigration from Punjab has been a long-standing issue, with many desperate for a better life paying hefty sums—sometimes as high as Rs 25-30 lakh—to agents who promise them visas. However, instead of legal migration, they are often sent on fraudulent visas through a risky network, commonly known as the ‘ Dunki' route.
The term ‘Dunki’ originates from a Punjabi word meaning “to hop from place to place.” It refers to a route where migrants make multiple stops in different countries—often passing through Central American nations like Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Guatemala—before attempting to cross into the US on foot with the help of human smugglers.
But that’s not all; Indians who use this route also have to contend with extortion and kidnapping. The medical aid charity Doctors Without Borders has reported a surge in instances of mass sexual assault in which hundreds of people have been captured, assaulted and raped — often in front of family members.
Further, those who fail to escape the clutches of Border Patrol police are then detained by US authorities and sent back to their country. So far, among those deported, 262 were men, 42 were women, and 29 were children—18 boys and 11 girls—who returned with their families.
Deputy Commissioner Aggarwal stated that many of those deported have been reluctant to file complaints against their agents.
“They have been counselled, and our teams have reached out to them. Most are still in shock and unwilling to say much. Some may also be wary of revealing the means through which they travelled. We have repeatedly assured them that action will only be taken against the agents, not against them,” he told the media.
To support the returnees, skill development and rehabilitation programmes have been introduced to help them find employment opportunities, he added.
With input from agencies
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