Among the 117 Indian illegal immigrants deported from the US on Saturday night, 33 were from Haryana, including 16 from Karnal and Kaithal; four from Ambala and three from Kurukshetra districts. 

Reacting on the issue of Indians deported from the United States of America, Haryana Transport Minister Anil Vij said that it is the choice of a country to keep illegal migrants or not. But while deporting, human rights must be taken care of.”

About the issue of sending police vans to bring the deportees, Vij said, “I have been told that the Transport Department was not asked to provide any bus to bring the deportees from Punjab. I have told the officials that if more such deportees are to be brought and if buses are sought, then good buses should be sent because they are the residents of Haryana and not criminals. They should also be provided food during their journey.”

Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda also reacted on the issue of the deported Indians. He said that sending Indians in handcuffs and shackles is completely reprehensible. “The Indian government should raise its voice against this. The way the BJP government of Haryana sent a prisoner’s van to bring back those returning from the USA, it is an insult to them.

Another Congress leader said that the US authorities treated Indians in an inhuman way, like criminals. They should be sent back with dignity, not in handcuffs. Moreover, the parents spend lakhs to send their children abroad, but due to agents’ fraud and government negligence, they are being sent back. The government must crack down on illegal immigration agents and support these deported youths.

Fugitive POCSO accused held after US deportation

A youth from Pehowa, wanted in a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, was arrested by Kurukshetra police after being deported from the US. The accused, identified as Sahil Verma, a resident of Pehowa in Kurukshetra, had been booked in May 2022 under POCSO and IPC sections for molesting and threatening a minor girl. However, within four to five days of the FIR, he fled to Vietnam and later reached Italy, where he remained for two years.

On January 25, Verma illegally entered the US through the Mexico border but was arrested there. Talking to Reporters, Kurukshetra SP Varun Singla said, “In 2022, a minor girl in her complaint had stated that Sahil Verma had blocked her way, molested and threatened to kill her. Following her complaint, a case was registered at Pehowa City police station. After the case was registered, the accused, avoiding arrest, managed to flee. He stayed in Italy for two years and in January, he crossed the border through the donkey route and entered America, where he was arrested.” Singla further revealed that Verma had paid Rs 38 lakh to an agent to facilitate his escape abroad. A police team from Pehowa City police station, led by Sub-Inspector Janpal Singh, arrested Verma from Amritsar soon after his deportation flight landed. “He was produced before a court, which sent him to jail,” the SP added.