Deportees Describe Shackling and Distress During Flight Back to India from US

Jaspal Singh, one of 104 deportees arriving on a US aircraft, described their journey as harrowing. He claimed they were handcuffed and shackled until they landed at Amritsar airport. Singh, 36, from Hardorwal village in Gurdaspur district, was apprehended by the US Border Patrol on January 24. The deportation is part of a crackdown by the Donald Trump administration on illegal immigrants.

Among the deportees, 33 were from Haryana and Gujarat each, 30 from Punjab, three from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh each, and two from Chandigarh. The group included 19 women and 13 minors, with children as young as four. After landing in Amritsar, those from Punjab were transported to their hometowns by police vehicles.

Deportees' Experiences

Jaspal Singh recounted his ordeal after returning to his hometown on Wednesday night. He revealed he had been deceived by a travel agent who promised legal entry into the US for Rs 30 lakh. Initially, he flew to Brazil in July last year but was forced to cross the US border illegally after six months there. Upon crossing, he was detained by US authorities for 11 days before being sent back to India.

Singh expressed shock upon learning of his deportation. "We thought we were being taken to another camp," he said. A police officer informed them they were being returned to India. Singh lamented the financial burden of his failed journey, noting that the money spent was borrowed.

Jaspal's cousin, Jasbir Singh, learned about the deportation through media reports. "These are issues of governments," Jasbir commented. He highlighted the dreams of a better future that drive people abroad for work, now dashed by these events.

Other Deportees' Stories

Harwinder Singh from Tahli village in Hoshiarpur shared his journey to the US. Departing in August last year, he travelled through Qatar, Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Panama, Nicaragua, and Mexico before reaching the US. He recounted near-death experiences during his travels, including a boat nearly capsizing and witnessing deaths in Panama's jungle and at sea.

Harwinder's agent had promised a route through Europe to Mexico for Rs 42 lakh. He described food scarcity during the journey: "Sometimes we got rice; sometimes nothing." Another deportee spoke of using the "donkey route" to reach the US and losing clothes worth Rs 30,000-35,000 along the way.

Challenges Faced During Travel

The arduous journey involved a 15-hour boat ride and walking 40-45 kilometres over hills. "We crossed 17-18 hills," one deportee said. He noted that slipping meant certain death and recounted seeing dead bodies along the way.

The C-17 Globemaster aircraft carrying the deportees landed at Amritsar airport earlier in the day. This action occurred just days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington for talks with President Donald Trump. Upon arrival, various government agencies questioned the deportees at the airport terminal to check for any criminal records.