India slams ‘inhumane treatment’ of 73-year-old deportee in US custody

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on December 4 told the Rajya Sabha that a 73-year-old Indian woman deported from the United States earlier this year was subjected to mistreatment while in detention — an issue New Delhi has now taken up firmly with Washington.

The woman, Harjit Kaur from Punjab, was deported on September 25. Jaishankar clarified that contrary to some reports, she was not handcuffed during her removal.

However, he confirmed that she was “maltreated” while in custody before being placed on a deportation flight.

“Whenever any flight with deportees arrives, Indian officials interview them. In this case, our immigration officers have confirmed she was not handcuffed. But while she was not handcuffed, she was maltreated,” Jaishankar said.

He added that India conveyed its “strong concern” to the US authorities the day after the deportation.

“On September 26, we officially took up the matter with the American Embassy and urged them to investigate the manner in which she was treated,” he told the House.

Kaur reportedly entered the US in 1991 as a single mother and worked as a seamstress in an Indian saree store. She paid taxes, volunteered at gurdwaras, and applied for asylum — a request that was eventually rejected.

Responding to questions on broader deportation practices, Jaishankar said no case of women or children being shackled has been reported since a February 5 deportation flight.

The Minister also shared updated statistics: since 2009, the United States has deported 18,822 Indian nationals. This year alone, 3,258 Indians have been returned — with 62.3% sent back on commercial flights and the remaining 37.6% via US Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Border Protection charter flights.

He noted that the government continues to closely monitor deportation cases and advocate for “dignified treatment” of Indian nationals abroad.