Chandigarh: Claiming to have raided as many as 1,274 immigration firms across the state, the Punjab police on Tuesday said it has registered 24 first information reports (FIRs) against defaulter travel agents and arrested seven of them.

Pertinently, the development comes amidst the ongoing crackdown against illegal travel agents across Punjab in wake of the recent deportation of illegal immigrants from the USA.

Stating that the said operation was carried out across the state till Monday night, Special Director General of Police (DGP), Law and Order, Arpit Shukla said that police teams registered at least 24 FIRs against defaulter travel agents and arrested seven of them.

“All the commissioners of police and senior superintendents of police (CPs/SSPs) were directed to ensure strict action against those travel agents, who were found violating the mandatory provisions and procedures of the Punjab Travel Professionals’ Regulation Act, 2012 or defrauded innocent people with false promises of facilitating illegal entry into foreign countries,” said the Special DGP.

As per the provisions of The Punjab Travel Professionals' Regulation Act 2012, all the travel agents are mandated to obtain a license from the Deputy Commissioner’s office, which is valid for five years and renewable for subsequent five-year periods. Additionally, agents are prohibited from engaging in activities beyond their licensed services, including human smuggling or unauthorised emigration assistance.

It may be recalled that the Punjab police has also constituted a four member Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by ADGP, NRI Affairs, Praveen Sinha to investigate complaints from deportees and take necessary action as per law.