Airline's reluctance to share info delays 'Donkey route' case probe

The investigation into the alleged human trafficking of Punjabi passengers, who were sent back to India by France from a Nicaragua-bound flight in December, has made little headway as a private airline has dithered from sharing details of tickets bought by them, officials said.

- Ravinder Vasudeva

Punjab police on December 30 set up a special investigation team. The probe has been stymied as one of the major airline firms, which most of these passengers used to reach Dubai from India, has not given details of the transactions, one of the investigators said, declining to be named.

The probe has found that passengers travelled in smaller groups after handing over the entire expenses to particular travel agents, the member of the investigating team said. “While two of the airlines have given details, the third one is yet to reply to our reminders despite repeated requests made to their managers.”

Some of the 200-plus passengers from Punjab went to Dubai from Mumbai, while others took a flight from Delhi.