Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann condemns shackling of deported Indians, calls it a 'national shame'

Criticizes Haryana Government for Transporting Deportees in Police Vans

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday strongly condemned the shackling of Indian deportees who were sent back from the United States on a military aircraft, calling it “a matter of great shame for the country.”

His remarks came after a US military aircraft carrying 104 Indian immigrants, deported as part of a crackdown on illegal immigration, landed in Amritsar on Wednesday. The deportees, hailing from various states, alleged that they were handcuffed and shackled throughout their journey and were only unshackled upon arrival in India.

Strong Criticism Against Haryana Government
Mann also criticized the Haryana government for transporting deportees from the state in police prisoner vans instead of offering them dignified transport. “Instead of soothing the wounds of Indians deported from a mentally and economically shattered US, the Haryana government, under Modi ji, took them back in police prisoner vans, which was equivalent to rubbing salt in their wounds,” he stated in a post in Punjabi on X.

Breakdown of Deportees by State
According to reports, the 104 deportees included:

33 from Haryana
33 from Gujarat
30 from Punjab
3 each from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh
2 from Chandigarh

The deportation came just days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Washington for wide-ranging discussions with US President Donald Trump. The move has sparked strong reactions, with concerns raised over the treatment of deportees during their journey.

Formalities and Return to Hometowns
Upon landing in Amritsar, the deportees underwent immigration formalities, verification, and background checks before being transported to their respective hometowns. However, the manner of their return has drawn widespread criticism, with calls for better handling of such situations in the future.

With increasing scrutiny on immigration policies, the treatment of deported individuals remains a crucial issue in diplomatic discussions between India and the US.