NewsIndiaUS plane brings back 104 deported Indians, most from Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana Premium The highest number of deportees — 33 each — are from Gujarat and Haryana, followed by 30 from Punjab. Three are from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh each, while two are from Chandigarh. A military aircraft carrying illegal Indian migrants deported from the US lands at the Amritsar airport on Wednesday. (PTI) A United States military C-17 aircraft carrying 104 deported Indian nationals from Haryana, Gujarat, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra landed at Amritsar airport Wednesday afternoon. The flight, which departed from San Antonio, Texas, Tuesday afternoon, also had 11 crew members and 45 US officials on board. Officials told The Indian Express that the highest number of deportees — 33 each — are from Gujarat and Haryana, followed by 30 from Punjab. Three passengers are from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh each, while two are from Chandigarh. The deportees include 25 women and 12 minors, with the youngest passenger just four years old. Forty-eight individuals are below the age of 25. The deportations come amid increasing US immigration enforcement measures, primarily targeting individuals who entered the country illegally or overstayed their visas. They are in line with President Donald Trump’s position against an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the country. This story requires a subscription Select a plan and use NEWIE25 code to get 25% extra off Already a subscriber? Sign in This premium article is free for now. Register to continue reading this story Already have an account? Sign In This story requires a subscription Please Select A Plan This content is exclusive for our subscribers. Subscribe now to get unlimited access to The Indian Express exclusive and premium stories. Already a subscriber? Sign In Before the flight landed, Punjab Police had made elaborate arrangements at the airport. “We discussed it in a meeting chaired by the Chief Minister today. He instructed the Punjab government to receive them in a friendly manner,” Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had earlier said they would provide all possible help to the individuals, while Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal had said it was better to “send illegal residents back home rather than putting them in jail in the US”. Officials said that the individuals from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh would be sent home by road, while those from Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh are likely to be flown back. A Punjab Police officer said they are unlikely to find any criminal record as the Centre had already scrutinised the list of individuals the US shared before sending them back.Story continues below this ad In Gujarat, a police officer told The Indian Express that individuals from the state will likely arrive in Ahmedabad on a private airline from Amritsar. “The state home department is coordinating the transfer and arrival of the deportees after the formalities and basic screening are completed in Amritsar itself. Their local criminal records are being verified along with their documentation and Indian identity proof. They will arrive in Gujarat on Thursday,” said the officer. Sources said that among the deportees from Gujarat, seven are minors. “When Indian nationals were deported from Vatry airport earlier, they were allowed to return home, and police recorded their statements. That was done to investigate the role of local agents. However, this time, since the US administration has returned them, we will try to understand what route they took and the nature of their entry and stay in the US. We are awaiting instructions to be followed in the case,” said an official. In December 2023, a Nicaragua-bound chartered flight from the United Arab Emirates with 303 Indians was grounded in France’s Vatry airport on suspicion of human trafficking. About 70 passengers from Gujarat had returned to the home state in batches and were subjected to a probe by the Gujarat CID. Curated For You Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts. Core Beats & Specializations Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions. National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups. Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies: 1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht "Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. "YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies. "As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications. 2. Crime & National Security "Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison. "Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border. "15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions. 3. Political Analysis & Elections "AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress. "Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages. "AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions. 4. Human Interest "Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction. "Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo. Signature Beat Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect. X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read More Aditi Raja is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, stationed in Vadodara, Gujarat, with over 20 years in the field. She has been reporting from the region of Central Gujarat and Narmada district for this newspaper since 2013, which establishes her as a highly Authoritative and Trustworthy source on regional politics, administration, and critical socio-economic and environmental issues. Expertise: Core Authority & Specialization: Her reporting is characterized by a comprehensive grasp of the complex factors shaping Central Gujarat, which comprises a vast tribal population, including: Politics and Administration: In-depth analysis of dynamics within factions of political parties and how it affects the affairs in the region, visits of national leaders making prominent statements, and government policy decisions impacting the population on ground. Crucial Regional Projects: She consistently reports on the socio-economic and political impact of infrastructure projects in the region, especially the Statue of Unity, the Sardar Sarovar Project on the Narmada River, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail bullet train project as well as the National Highway infrastructure. Social Justice and Human Rights: Her reporting offers deep coverage of sensitive human-interest topics, including gender, crime, and tribal issues. Her reports cover legal proceedings from various district courts as well as the Gujarat High Court (e.g., the Bilkis Bano case remission, POCSO court orders, Public Interest Litigations), the plight of tribal communities, and broader social conflicts (e.g., Kheda flogging case). Local Impact & Disaster Reporting: Excels in documenting the immediate impact of events on communities, such as the political and civic fallout of the Vadodara floods, the subsequent public anger, and the long-delayed river redevelopment projects, Harni Boat Tragedy, Air India crash, bringing out a blend of stories from the investigations as well as human emotions. Special Interest Beat: She tracks incidents concerning Non-Resident Gujaratis (NRIs) including crime and legal battles abroad, issues of illegal immigration and deportations, as well as social events connecting the local Gujarati experience to the global diaspora. ... 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