File Photo of deportees / Reuters

Amritsar: Amid the row over the Punjab state government's unhappiness with the landing in Amritsar of a U.S. flight carrying Indian deportees, a second U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster landed at Sri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport of Amritsar at about 11:40 pm on Sunday.

Official sources said that of the 117 deportees on the second flight, 65 belong to Punjab, 33 to Haryana, eight to Gujarat, three to Uttar Pradesh, two each to Goa, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, and one each to Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

Sources said the male Indian deportees were handcuffed and shackled, and some of the Sikh and turban-wearing among them were seen without turban even when they were proceeding to immigration checkpoint at Amritsar airport.

The Punjab government deputed a heavy police force at the airport for security. 

Some family members of Indian deportees also reached the airport to receive their kin after hearing about news from the media and receiving information from local authorities. The families looked sad and distressed and waited eagerly to see their kin. 

Management of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) also arranged Langar (free food) and hot tea from Harmandar Sahib (Golden Temple) for the families of the deportees, besides transportation facilities for them.

Jaswinder Singh of Firozepur district reached the airport to receive his cousin's brother, 19-year-old Saurav and talked to New India Abroad. 

"Saurav belongs to Chandiwala village of Firozepur district, and after passing Class XII, he and his family planned to send him to the U.S. We contacted a Delhi-based agent who promised to settle Saurav in the U.S. Saurav left India on January 4, 2025, by a flight from Mumbai to Guatemala. Then, he travelled via land and sea routes to Mexico and entered the U.S. border on January 26. The family paid Rs 40 lakh to an agent to send him to the U.S. To arrange money, the family sold agricultural land, took some loans on land and arranged for some from relatives. On deportation from the U.S., the agent is promising to return money to the family", said Jaswinder. 

Mangal Singh, grandfather of 19-year-old deportee Class XII pass Jasnoor Singh of Nawan Kot village in Jandiala Guru area of Amritsar district, said they were duped by an immigration agent of ₹55 lakh to send their son to the U.S.

"Jasnoor reached the U.S. after a harsh journey of nine months through land, sea, rivers, and jungles. He left India on June 9, 2024. He was stuck for six months in Columbia when we asked the agent to send him back to India, but he kept luring us into the U.S. dream. Jasnoor passed through the harsh Panama jungle route and was extremely harassed. He remained in constant touch with us till he entered the U.S. border after nine months through Mexico on the intervening night of January 29 and 30. Then we lost contact with him", Mangal Singh.

Mangal Singh added, "Like the previous flight, we are sure, as we saw some videos, that Jasnoor is being deported handcuffed and in shackles."
About arranging money, Mangal Singh said, "We sold two trucks and a land plot and took ₹10 lakh from relatives and then paid ₹55 lakh to the agent. Jasnoor went by air till Guyana, and from there onwards, took the donkey (illegal) route."

Earlier in the day, Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann reached Amritsar airport and targeted the Government of India. Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal accompanied Mann.
Union minister for state Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu also reached the airport and hit out at CM Bhagwant Mann for targeting the Modi government. "Landing of U.S. flight in Amritsar was a non-issue, and no one has defamed Punjab."

Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday asked the Union government to refrain from turning the holy city of Amritsar into a 'detention or deportee' centre by repeatedly sending planes carrying deportees to this sacred land. Mann visited the Amritsar airport to foresee the arrangements for receiving the deportees. 

He claimed the government failed to secure the countrymen's interests, adding that this government has undermined the country's unity, integrity and sovereignty. He said that it was unfortunate that under the present regime, the country is bereft of an effective foreign policy due to which inhuman treatment is being given to deportees.

Mann said that the officers have been deputed to ensure that all the deportees reach their home safely after landing at the airport. He also said that the state government was duty-bound to provide adequate opportunities for the deportees for their rehabilitation as their expertise in the state, adding that no stone will be left unturned for this noble cause.

Interacting with media at the airport, Bittu targeted Punjab CM Mann, saying, "When the first flight landed at Amritsar, Arvind Kejriwal and party were campaigning in Delhi for assembly by-poll and did not speak.

Now, they are making such statements under a plan made after the debacle in the elections. What is wrong with the aircraft landing in Punjab? We, Punjabis, protect the entire country. If people from other states arrive here, they will be like our sons and daughters. People of Gujarat, Haryana, UP and other states are also among the deportees. They have not said they are being defamed. How can we be defamed if the plane landed here? We are putting ourselves in a poor light. Who is defaming us? Instead, the people of other states are lauding Punjab for accommodating the deportees and sharing their grief. Punjabis are broadminded." 

He counter-accused the chief minister, saying, "Bhagwant Mann had promised that he would eliminate illegal agents in Punjab. What is happening today? When the deportation flights are coming, he should have resigned as CM. He stated that he would create such an atmosphere in Punjab that even foreigners would come to Punjab for jobs, and the state would see reverse migration. He should be ashamed of what he is saying on the land of Guru. Who forced the youths to opt to go to the U.S. at the cost of ₹50 lakh through a donkey route. They are not getting employment in Punjab."