Nagpur: Among the 104 Indian nationals recently deported from the United States, one youth from Nagpur and three other individuals from Maharashtra have been identified here on Thursday, February 6. Sources have revealed that the deportees were secretly transported from Amritsar to their respective hometowns under tight police security, though authorities have not officially confirmed any details about the operation.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the deported individuals from Maharashtra include Harpreet Singh Lalia (33) from Nagpur, Gurvinder Singh (44) from Mumbai, and Prashant Anil Jahagirdar (32) from Adgaon. Reports suggest that the individuals paid hefty sums to travel illegally via the notorious ‘Dunki Route,’ which involves crossing multiple international borders without authorization.

Sources indicate that these individuals had recently entered the US illegally and were apprehended by American authorities, who confiscated their Indian passports before deportation.

The deportees were flown on a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster military aircraft, which landed at Guru Ravidas International Airport in Amritsar at around 1 pm on Wednesday. The aircraft carried 11 crew members and 45 US officials involved in the deportation process.

Despite heavy media presence at the airport, officials discreetly escorted the deportees through a back gate to undisclosed locations. Before their departure, all 104 individuals underwent mandatory screening and verification procedures at the airport.

The deportation highlights growing concerns over illegal immigration attempts via dangerous and unauthorized routes. Authorities are yet to provide further information regarding legal actions against the deportees.