A second batch of Indian nationals who entered the US illegally arrived in India aboard US military C-17 aircraft on Saturday (February 16). According to media reports, the plane was carrying 117 people, with most of them handcuffed.
The Indian nationals, who are facing the wrath of US President Donald Trump’s anti-immigration efforts, explained their ordeal upon landing at Punjab’s Amritsar airport.
“Our legs were chained, and hands were also cuffed,” Daljit Singh, one of the deportees, was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. Another deportee, Sourav, confirmed that their legs were chained throughout the journey.
“A day before yesterday, we were told that we will be shifted to another camp. When we were put into a plane, they said we are being taken to India,” he told PTI.
Harjit Singh, a deportee from Punjab’s Gurdaspur district, said he was caught by US authorities on January 27 when he was attempting to cross the country’s southern border with Mexico.
“We were caught while crossing the US border on January 27 and kept at a detention centre for 18 days. We were deported on February 13, handcuffed with our legs chained,” he said.
When the first US military flight landed in India, carrying 104 Indian nationals, opposition parties created a massive ruckus following reports that their hands were cuffed and legs chained.
Some lawmakers had even asked PM Narendra Modi to raise the matter with Donald Trump during his visit to the White House a few days back.
Ahead of the arrival, Congress leader P Chidambaram said the Saturday’s flight would be a “test” for Indian diplomacy after Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said he would raise the matter with American authorities.
“All eyes will be on the US aircraft which will land today in Amritsar bringing back illegal immigrants. Will the deportees be handcuffed and their legs tied with ropes?” Chidambaram wrote on X. “It is a test for Indian diplomacy.”
Amid a ruckus by the opposition parties, the
Indian foreign minister last week said he would engage with US authorities to ensure that the deportees are not mistreated on their way back home.
“…We are engaging the US government to ensure the returning deportees are not mistreated in any manner,” he had said.
(With inputs from agencies)
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‘Our legs were chained:’ Second batch of Indian deportees recounts US deportation horror
