The Punjab government has cracked down in a big way on unscrupulous travel agents and registered 2,140 cases under various Acts since it came to power in March 2017, a Minister told the Punjab Assembly on Thursday.

State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brahm Mohindra said that 1,107 cases had been filed under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 528 under Punjab Travel Professionals Regulation Act 2014 and another 505 under the Emigration Act, 1983.

On the recent case of four Kapurthala youth who were fraudulently sent to Armenia by a group of travel agents, Mohindra told the House that three accused agents had already been arrested under the Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act 2012, and said the remaining would be apprehended soon.

A Lookout Circular (LOC) had been issued and raids were being conducted, he added.

All the victims had returned from Armenia and safely reached their homes on February 9, said the Minister.

Mohindra said that the Punjab government would soon set up a corporation to provide skill training to youth to match foreign job requirements, the terms of reference for which were being finalised.

Acting on the Chief Minister's directive, the state government had already issued a directive and advisory to all the top civil and police officials to crack down on illegal travel agents to ensure strict compliance with the laws and legislations governing the licensing and operations of travel agents, the Minister added.

--IANS

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