JALANDHAR: North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) Executive Director Satnam Singh Chahal has strongly condemned the Punjab government’s continued failure to effectively implement the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act-2010. The Act was passed in 2010 and was reintroduced in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha after amendments in 2012.
Chahal said in a press statement issued today that due to the state government’s lack of seriousness and failure to implement the law, illegal travel agents have been given a free pass. This is the reason why even today our youth are losing their lives after getting trapped in the net of fraud, and the government has not opened its eyes yet.
Chahal gave the example of a recent case in which 23-year-old Jaswinder Singh alias “Prince”, a resident of Bhogpur and living in AGI Flats near Khajurla, allegedly committed suicide. He was a victim of an immigration scam in which he was duped of lakhs of rupees in the name of fake visas.
According to the police, Jaswinder consumed poison due to anxiety and stress and died during treatment. Mata Kuldeep Kaur said that she had given ₹21 lakh to illegal agents for her and her son to go to Canada. The accused gave them fake visas, returned their passports, but besides the cash, they also took away their car and house through fraud.
Chahal said, “This horrific incident is not an isolated incident – it reflects a systemic failure where unscrupulous travel agents exploit the dreams of our youth, working under the noses of the administration. The government’s silence and lack of action is nothing short of criminal. “Before the Punjab government wakes up and implements the law that has been passed, families need to be saved from destruction.”
Chahal demanded immediate and strict implementation of the anti-human trafficking law across the state, a dedicated task force to monitor illegal immigration agents and justice for the victims due to government negligence. He also asked the Chief Minister and the departments concerned to ensure that such incidents are never repeated and the culprits are brought to book at the earliest.