Two Planes With Deported Indians Land In Amritsar 

AMRITSAR (ANI) – Two aircraft carrying the second and third batches of Indian nationals deported from the United States landed at Amritsar airport over the weekend.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann assured that the deportees would be treated properly, emphasizing that all necessary arrangements had been made for their stay and onward travel.

“Our kids are the ones returning here, so no one will go hungry. We have made food and lodging arrangements. They will stay here for a few hours before heading to their respective states, as flights have already been booked by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA),” Mann said at a press conference.

However, Mann also criticized the central government, alleging a conspiracy to “defame” Punjabis. “The first deportation flight landed in Amritsar, and now a second. The MEA must clarify the criteria for selecting Amritsar as the landing site. This is an attempt to tarnish Punjab’s image,” he stated.

This marks the second such flight of deportees arriving in Amritsar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, meanwhile, reiterated India’s willingness to take back its nationals living illegally in the U.S. and stressed the need to dismantle the “ecosystem” of human trafficking. He also expressed confidence that former U.S. President Donald Trump would support India’s efforts in tackling this issue.

The deported individuals primarily hail from Punjab and Gujarat, with others from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. Sources noted that, unlike the first deportation flight, women on this journey were not handcuffed or chained. The shackling of deportees during the previous flight had sparked widespread criticism in India.

India ranks as the third-largest source of undocumented immigrants in the U.S., following Mexico and El Salvador.