US Deportees Land in Amritsar: Women, Kids Not Bound

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

• A plane carrying 116 Indian deportees from the US landed in Amritsar.
• Women and children were reportedly not restrained on the flight.
• Male deportees claimed they were shackled during the journey.
• The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) condemned the denial of turbans to Sikh deportees.
• The Punjab government arranged transport for the deportees.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

A plane carrying 116 Indian citizens deported from the United States landed at Amritsar airport on Saturday. This marks the second such deportation under US immigration policies. Officials reported that women and children on the flight were not restrained during the journey.

Deportees’ Claims

However, male deportees claimed they were shackled throughout the flight. Some members of the Sikh community also alleged they were not allowed to wear their turbans. These allegations have sparked concerns about the treatment of deportees.

Previous Incident

Concerns regarding the treatment of deported Indian immigrants intensified earlier this month after a US Air Force plane carrying 104 deportees landed in Amritsar on February 5. Some passengers reported being restrained with handcuffs on their wrists and ankles for the entire duration of the flight, only being released upon arrival in India. This initial incident raised serious questions about the protocols followed during these deportations.

Regional Breakdown

Among those deported, 65 are from Punjab, 33 from Haryana, eight from Gujarat, two each from Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, and one each from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. This breakdown highlights the wide geographic origins of the deported individuals.

Bhagwant Mann’s Response

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann visited the airport and stated that his government arranged transportation for the Punjab residents among the deportees. “Our vehicles are ready to take them to their homes,” he said. This demonstrates the Punjab government’s commitment to assisting its residents upon their arrival.

Age Group

News agency PTI, citing sources, reported that most of the individuals deported on the second US flight were between the ages of 18 and 30. This suggests that a significant portion of the deportees were young adults.

SGPC Condemnation

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) strongly condemned US authorities for allegedly not allowing Sikh deportees to wear their turbans. Video clips on social media showed Sikh deportees completing immigration formalities at Amritsar airport without turbans. SGPC officials provided turbans and arranged food and transport for them. The SGPC views this as a violation of religious freedom and a disrespect to Sikh traditions. The incident underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Sikhs in maintaining their religious identity in certain international contexts. Many deported Indians in the US lack access to adequate legal representation, making them vulnerable to unfair treatment.

Third Flight

Meanwhile, a third flight carrying 112 deportees from Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat landed at Amritsar airport on Sunday. The continued deportations highlight the ongoing enforcement of US immigration policies.

Aakhir Tak – Key Takeaways to Remember

• 116 Indian deportees from the US landed in Amritsar.
• Women and children were reportedly not restrained on the flight, but men claimed to be shackled.
• The SGPC condemned the alleged denial of turbans to Sikh deportees.
• The Punjab government arranged transport for the deportees.
• Most of the deportees were between 18 and 30 years old.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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