New Delhi, Dec 4 (NationPress) A heated debate surrounding the alleged “mistreatment and handcuffing” of Indian deportees from the US took center stage during Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, initiated by Samajwadi Party MP Ramji Lal Suman from Uttar Pradesh, who raised serious concerns regarding the treatment of these individuals.

Suman challenged the government’s claim that no Indian had been handcuffed, referencing the case of 73-year-old Harjeet Kaur, whom he alleged was not only mistreated but also deported while in handcuffs.

He also pointed out the growing network of illegal travel agents exploiting Indians and demanded clarity from the government about actions taken against such entities.

In response, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar provided details related to Harjeet Kaur’s case, which had sparked public outrage over the alleged handcuffing incident.

Jaishankar stated that the government had conducted a thorough investigation. “Her own lawyer has confirmed that she was not handcuffed. One officer considered it, but another intervened due to her age,” he explained. Nonetheless, he verified that Kaur had experienced maltreatment during her detention prior to deportation.

“Whenever a flight carrying deportees arrives – whether chartered or commercial – our immigration officials conduct interviews. In this instance, they confirmed she was not handcuffed, but she was indeed mistreated in detention,” he clarified.

Jaishankar informed the House that on September 26, a formal note verbale was sent to the US Embassy expressing “strong concern” over Kaur’s treatment and urging American authorities to investigate the matter. “We have scrutinized the facts, conveyed our concerns to the US Embassy, and ensured a follow-up,” he assured.

Regarding the broader issue of illegal migration, the Minister noted that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has recorded and is investigating 27 cases linked to human trafficking. The NIA’s anti-human trafficking division is actively pursuing traffickers.

“Two major traffickers were apprehended in Haryana and Punjab on August 7, with two more arrested in Himachal Pradesh on October 2,” he added. State governments, especially Punjab, have also ramped up their efforts. Punjab has established a Special Investigation Team and a fact-finding committee.

“According to the information we received, 25 FIRs have been filed against 58 illegal travel agents, with 16 individuals arrested,” Jaishankar reported.

Haryana has initiated 44 FIRs, leading to the arrest of 27 individuals, while Gujarat has detained a “significant trafficker.”

During a follow-up question, MP Haris Beeran from the Indian Union Muslim League in Kerala raised concerns about the challenges faced by Indians traveling to the US legally and proposed amendments to the Immigration Act to empower states to take action against illegal recruitment agencies without awaiting central approval.

Beeran expressed worries regarding the obstacles encountered by Indian citizens traveling to the US, both legally and illegally. He mentioned that nearly 6,000 F category visas, primarily F1 student visas, had reportedly been revoked by US authorities.

He claimed that many of these cancellations were linked to students’ social media activity, including expressions of solidarity with Gaza.

In reply, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar explained that the wave of visa cancellations began in April 2025, following a new policy announced by the US Secretary of State. “This policy has resulted in even minor infractions leading to student visa cancellations, and in many instances, students were coerced into self-deportation,” he remarked.

Jaishankar added that Indian consulates and embassies have intervened whenever possible following direct appeals from affected students, urging US authorities to avoid severe actions for minor infractions. However, he stressed that visa issuance is ultimately a sovereign decision of any government.

The US has recently reiterated that all visa adjudications are deemed national security decisions, enabling them to deny or revoke visas based on their assessment of an individual’s online activities or perceived security risks.

Additionally, the US government has publicly stated that student visa applicants may need to switch their social media accounts from private to public settings for scrutiny of their posts.

Regarding Beeran’s suggestion about state-level actions against illegal recruitment agents, Jaishankar mentioned that he did not possess precise figures for Kerala but assured the House that the Centre takes state requests for prosecution sanctions “proactively and seriously.” He promised to review the specific cases raised by the member and provide a response from the ministry.