Exorbitant amount to agents to deportation: Shackled, handcuffed deportees narrate ordeal of shattered American dreams
PTC News Desk: One of the deportees who reached Amritsar on Saturday night claimed that they were handcuffed with their legs chained during their journey.
Daljit Singh, a resident of Kurala Kalan village in Hoshiarpur district, was among the 116 illegal Indian immigrants returned on a US aircraft that landed at Amritsar airport. Singh revealed that he was transported via the "donkey route," an illegal and dangerous path often used by migrants to enter the US.
Singh's wife, Kamalpreet Kaur, claimed that her husband was misled by a travel agent who had promised him a direct flight to the US but instead took him through the perilous donkey route. She explained that a man from their village had arranged for the travel agent to help Singh with his journey, and the agent had assured them of a legal route to the US. However, Singh was taken through several locations, which raised doubts about the legitimacy of the trip.
He also claimed the travel agent initially demanded Rs 45 lakh to arrange a "direct flight" for him to the US from New Delhi more than two years ago. Daljit's family members claimed that the travel agent later demanded additional money. Unable to pay the extra amount, the agent had a general power of attorney issued for five acres of their agricultural land, according to the family.
About a month and a half ago, the agent informed the family that Daljit had arrived in the US, although they had not heard from him since then.
Daljit Singh's wife, Kamalpreet Kaur, stated that the travel agent deceived them by assuring that Daljit would be sent to the US on a "direct flight."
- PTC NEWS
