Punjab tops India in human trafficking cases, says Jaishankar
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar shared in Parliament that Punjab currently reports the highest number of human trafficking cases in India.
He highlighted that Haryana is also seeing worrying numbers.
"As far as states are concerned, the maximum number of trafficking cases is from the state of Punjab," he stated.
Quick rundown: What's happening?
Punjab has filed 25 FIRs against 58 illegal travel agents, with 16 arrests so far.
Haryana reported over 2,300 cases, leading to 44 FIRs and 27 arrests.
Nationally, the NIA has cracked down with 27 cases and arrested 169 people linked to trafficking networks.
Many victims pay up to ₹50 lakh hoping for a way abroad—only to be trapped by fake agents.
How authorities are responding
Punjab's Special Investigation Team is zeroing in on illegal immigration routes and shady recruiters.
The government is also warning potential migrants about scams through its eMigrate portal and using new laws under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita to go after offenders across states.
The goal: stop traffickers before more people get caught up in these dangerous schemes.