Kapurthala lad bore injuries, ‘electric shocks’ to reach America

It was after a six-month ordeal, marked by starvation, injuries, and even “electric shocks”, that Nishan Singh, 20, a deportee from Kapurthala, reached the US from France this year — only to be deported back to India among the second batch of deportees. His mother’s jewellery and their farm land were mortgaged for the Rs 40 lakh they spent for the trip.

Nishan, hailing from Chakoki village, said: “Jungle de vich kutteya mareya vi janda si, roti vi nahi si dinde (We were beaten up in the jungle and weren’t given food). Operatives snatched our phones, clothes and food, and left us in the jungle. We were 150 people there. I spent 16 days there. We found the way to the police on our own.”

“I had earlier gone to France (in 2022). Agents demanded Rs 45 lakh to send me to the US. They sent me through jungles and on way demanded more money. My leg was injured and they didn’t get me treated. They demanded more money; even threatened my father, saying they would kill me. They gave me electric shocks. I reached a camp on January 25. A few days ago, we were told that we were being deported.”

Another deportee, Manpreet, from Miani village, refused to talk to mediapersons. His uncle, Varinder Pal, said: “Manpreet told us that others were without turbans before they boarded the flight.”

Doors locked, families unwilling to talk

Mostly, locked doors and unwilling families greeted the mediapersons as they tried to contact the families of deportees who returned last night.