Amritsar: Two youths from Rajpura, Patiala, who were among 116 individuals deported from the United States, were arrested upon arrival at Amritsar airport on Saturday night. Sandeep Singh and Pradeep Singh were wanted in connection with a 2023 murder case registered in Rajpura, and their names had been under police radar for months. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nanak Singh confirmed their arrest, stating that a special team from the Rajpura police station had been dispatched to the airport to take them into custody as soon as they landed. The duo had reportedly fled India after the crime, seeking asylum in the US, but were eventually detained by American authorities and sent back as part of a mass deportation operation.
The case against Sandeep Singh was initially registered in June 2023, involving four other accused in a murder incident. During the course of the investigation, Pradeep Singh’s name also surfaced, leading to his inclusion in the FIR. Both individuals managed to escape India, allegedly with the help of human traffickers, before law enforcement could apprehend them. Their deportation follows a growing trend of illegal immigrants facing extradition from the US, as authorities in both countries intensify crackdowns on unlawful migration and criminal fugitives. Officials revealed that the two had been living in the US under false pretenses, but after their legal status was revoked, they had no option but to return.
The deportation flight carrying 116 individuals, including Sandeep and Pradeep, arrived in Amritsar aboard a C-17 aircraft late Saturday night. A heavy police presence was deployed at the airport to handle the incoming deportees, some of whom had criminal records in India. The arrests highlight the increasing cooperation between Indian and American law enforcement agencies in tracking fugitives and ensuring they face justice in their home country. The incident has also raised concerns about the growing trend of criminals using illegal immigration channels to evade prosecution, prompting authorities to tighten scrutiny on such movements.
