NRI commission seeks info on illegal travel agents

Jalandhar/Chandigarh : Taking suo motu cognizance of the drowning of youths illegally migrating to the US, Punjab NRI Commission has written to all DCs, SSPs seeking action taken against illegal travel agents in the state.In its letter sent after the Panama Boat Tragedy, the commission has sought information from the officials on action taken against illegal travel agents under the Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act, 2012 and the Punjab Travel Professional Regulations Act, 2014.
The commission, while terming the illegal immigrant situation in Punjab as alarming, has also reiterated the suggestions it made to the government in a 2013 order dated May 31, 2013 regarding constitution of Law Enforcement Units which would create a human trafficking database and creation of a Human Trafficking Victim Relief Fund.
The commission’s order reiterates, “The business of human trafficking is flourishing in Punjab. The number of youths coming into the clutches of travel agents is astronomical with many illegal migrants being deported. Among the human trafficking tragedies (across the world) Punjab has a large share. Doaba is the focal point for well-entrenched travel agents, who operate at the village level having multi-tier international connections. Thousands of trafficked people from India in general and Punjab in particular are languishing in various jails, refugee homes and camps in various countries.”
“It has been felt by the commission that legislation alone may not help unless Law Enforcement Units are set up in the state to ascertain a database on human trafficking,” the order states which has been marked to Principal Secretaries, Home Affairs, NRI Department and NRI Affairs.
Officially, two missing from state in Panama boat tragedy. The number of suspected casualties from the state in a boat sinking incident between Panama and Colombia on January 10 is officially two now with reports that most of the other Punjab youths who were travelling in another boat had crossed the sea safely. Sources said of the three families who reported that their kin was missing, one has clarified that their ward was safe. Though the members of the third family were unwilling to speak on record as it was alleged the youths could be illegal migrants to USA or other countries, government sources said the family’s version and other enquiries made by them suggest that the youths from India (especially Punjab) and other countries were travelling in two boats, one of which capsized in Colombian waters.Earlier, it was feared that 20 or more youths from the state had drowned in the incident. The government has still not issued any official statement on the subject. State government officials said the Ministry of External Affairs was taking up the matter.
Panama Embassy officials told TNS that the incident happened on January 10 but it took place in Colombian waters.The two missing youths — Gurvinder Singh (21) from Jaid village in Kapurthala and Gurjit Singh (27) — of Tandi Aulakh village in Kapurthala. Both villages fall in Bholath constituency represented by Akali leader Bibi Jagir Kaur. Ex-Bholath MLA Sukhpal Khaira, who is now with Aam Aadmi Party, had highlighted the incident forcefully.The victim’s families were living in uncertainty in the absence of any official confirmation about the incident.Kapurthala SSP Rajinder Singh said, “As per Bunty’s claims, he had only sent three youths – one each from Tandi Aulakh and Jaidan – as well as Sonu who provided the information about the tragedy.”Principal Secretary, General Administration, KAP Sinha also claimed a complete lack of information on the remaining youths so far. “We have been in touch with the MEA ever since the incident came to our knowledge. However, we are in touch with the MEA on the issue,” he added.