Punjab: 167 Indians deported from America land at Sri Guru Ram Das International airport in Amritsar

AMRITSAR: One hundred and sixty seven Indians who had gone to America nurturing hopes of brighter future - but took illegal way to enter their dream destination -arrived back on Tuesday with shattered dreams after they were deported by US government .


A private airlines carrying 167 Indians , mostly from Haryana and Punjab , arrived at Amritsar ’s Sri Guru Ram Das International airport on Tuesday .

After disembarking from the aircraft all the youth , mostly in their, twenties and thirties, were medically screened and were sent to their respective districts.

Sub divisional magistrate Deepak Bhatia informed that all of them would be sent to quarantine center for 14 days and their virology tests would be held. Those tested negative would be sent to home but with directions to home quarantine .

The deportees have option to stay in government quarantine centers or in the hotel earmarked for the purpose.

They were not allowed to meet their relatives, a few of whom had arrived at airport to receive them.

Executive director of North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) Satnam Singh Chahal who has been in touch with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement department informed that a total of 1793 Indians who had entered US illegally were lodged in various jails and rest of them were expected to be deported in near future.

The TOI talked to Mangal Singh, resident of Thatti Sohal village in Tarn Taran district who had arrived at airport to receive his son Gursewak Singh .

He said he had paid around Rs 22 lakh rupees to a travel agent who had not only assured to fly his son direct to America but also get him a good job.

"My son left for US about eleven months ago and it took him three months to reach at US border after traveling by air, by sea, by road and on foot only to be arrested after he crossed the wall at Mexico/US border", he said.

Mangal said that he and his relatives spent another Rs 15 lakh on legal fee to contest his sons case who was lodged in a prison in Louisiana.

"A few days ago we came to know that jail authorities have given him back his clothings and his bag so we were hopeful he would come back", he said.

He said he would file complaint against the fraudulent travel agent who not only duped him of lakhs of rupees but also put his sons life to danger.