NIA arrests two Haryana residents in U.S.'Dunki Immigration' case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday arrested two men from Haryana in connection with a human trafficking case involving the notorious ‘Dunki route’ for illegal immigration to the United States.The accused, identified as Ravi Kumar and Gopal Singh, both residents of Karnal district, were apprehended during coordinated raids at four locations across Haryana and Punjab.The searches, conducted in Karnal, Yamuna Nagar, and Gurdaspur, led to the seizure of multiple digital devices and other materials, which are now being examined for evidence of the wider criminal conspiracy.
According to the NIA, the duo were part of a transnational network that enticed Indian citizens with false promises of legal passage to the U.S. Investigations revealed that Gopal Singh worked closely with another key accused, Jai Kumar, and Ravi Kumar in facilitating the illegal immigration of multiple victims. Gopal allegedly handled hotel bookings, travel itineraries, and acted as an intermediary for other victims. He also assisted in collecting payments from the victims and their families.
The case stems from the illegal immigration of Shubham Saini, a resident of Naraingarh, Haryana, who was intercepted by U.S. authorities at the border in January 2025 and deported to India. In his complaint to Naraingarh police, Saini detailed how he was transported through several South and Central American countries, held captive abroad, and subjected to abuse and extortion. His family reportedly paid Rs 42 lakh in instalments to the syndicate.The NIA said its probe has uncovered significant international linkages in the case, and efforts are underway to trace and apprehend other members of the network involved in the human trafficking racket.

(Crime Correspondent)