4-member SIT to probe illegal migration cases

Will focus on identifying those involved in such illegal activities and ensuring they are held accountable for their actions

- Ravinder Vasudeva and Navrajdeep Singh

CHANDIGARH/JALANDHAR: Punjab Police on Friday constituted a four-member fact-finding committee/special investigation team (SIT) to investigate illegal human trafficking and migration. This comes three days after the US deported 104 illegal immigrants from various states on a military aircraft as part of Donald Trump government's crackdown.

Most of the deportees when contacted by their respective district police refused to give any written statements against the agents, barring one complaint registered in Amritsar.

Additional director general of police (NRI affairs) Praveen Sinha will head this committee with ADGP (internal security) Shive Kumar Verma, IGP (provisioning) Dr S Boopathi and DIG (border range) Satinder Singh as its members.

"The SIT will focus on identifying the individuals involved in these illegal activities and ensuring they are held accountable for their actions, besides, identifying the persons involved in the illegal activities," said Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav.

He said the SIT has been directed to take appropriate action as per law and facts.

"The committee has been empowered to co-opt any other police officer in the inquiry/investigation. They will maintain coordination with the concerned senior superintendents of police/commissioners of police, who have been directed to provide all the required assistance and infrastructural facilities to the committee," the DGP added.

He said that this collaborative effort is aimed at ensuring a comprehensive and effective investigation into illegal migration.

Deportees reluctant to file complaints Only one of the 30 deportees from Punjab approached by the state police has submitted his complaint.

On the complainant of Daler Singh, a resident of Salempura village near Rajasansi the Amritsar police have booked a travel agent under Section 318(4) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Punjab Travel Professionals (Regulation) Act 2014.