PHAGWARA: In response to an important question raised in the Rajya Sabha, the Central Government has admitted that no detailed or verified state-wise data is available — including for Punjab — on Indians who travelled abroad illegally through routes like the ‘Dunki Route’ or were deported from foreign countries.
Replying to the question raised by Rajya Sabha MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh stated that many countries share information only during deportation or nationality verification processes. In several cases, deportation is carried out directly by the concerned foreign governments, due to which complete information does not always reach Indian embassies.
However, based on data received from various Indian missions abroad, around 1, 34, 365 Indian nationals were deported between 2021 and 2025. These figures clearly highlight the alarming scale of illegal migration networks.
According to official data, the highest number of deportations occurred from Saudi Arabia (around 1.21 lakh), followed by nearly 22, 000 from Dubai. Deportations have also been reported from the United States, Malaysia, Qatar, and Myanmar, among others.
Speaking to the media, Sant Seechewal said the absence of state-level data and a coherent policy is creating space for illegal agents to operate freely. He pointed out that when over 1.34 lakh Indians have been deported in just five years and there is no separate data even for a migration-prone state like Punjab, it reflects not merely a data gap but a serious policy failure.
He stressed that in Punjab, Haryana and other affected states, fake agents are pushing youth towards dangerous and illegal routes abroad. Strict action and accountability against such networks are urgently required.