Sikh Woman Harjit Kaur Mistreated In US Detention, Not Handcuffed: Jaishankar Tells Rajya Sabha

Last Updated:December 04, 2025, 14:17 IST

Jaishankar said US student visa cancellations increased sharply, prompting India to intervene as affected students reported strict action and pressure to self-deport.

EAM S Jaishankar | File Image

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told the Rajya Sabha that 73-year-old Harjit Kaur was mistreated in US detention before being deported, though she was not handcuffed. He said Indian authorities have taken up the matter with their US counterparts.

Jaishankar said that all deportees arriving in India are interviewed by government officials. Speaking about 73-year-old Harjit Kaur’s deportation from the US, he noted that while she was not handcuffed, she was mistreated during detention before being placed on the flight. “Whenever any flight with deportees come, the deportees are invariably interviewed by the officials of the Govt of India…While Harjit Kaur (deportee) was not handcuffed, she was maltreated in detention before she was put on the flight," said Jaishankar.

He added that India has strongly raised the issue with the US Embassy, urging a thorough review of the incident.

He also said the NIA has registered 27 human trafficking cases, leading to 169 arrests. He was responding during Question Hour to queries on Indians deported from the United States and outlined the measures being taken to tackle human trafficking.

US visa cancellation 

The EAM said the cancellation and revocation of student visas in the US began after a new policy was introduced by the US Secretary of State in April 2025. Under this policy, even students who committed relatively minor violations faced strict action, including loss of their visas. In many cases, students were also pressured to leave the US on their own.

He said this trend has been noticed across several incidents. Jaishankar informed that whenever such cases come to the Indian government’s attention, either through official channels or when affected students contact Indian consulates or embassies directly, the matter is taken up with the US authorities.

“Where the cancellation or revocation of student visas were done, the problem began in April of 2025, where there was a new policy which was announced by the Secretary of State and as a result of that, even for relatively minor offences, we saw the cancellation of student visas and in many cases also there was pressure on them to self-deport. So this is something which has happened. So I would like to inform the honourable member through you that yes, in each of these cases, this matter, wherever it came to our attention, and many students directly contacted consulates and embassies," said Jaishankar.

NIA action on human trafficking

Jaishankar informed the House that the Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered 27 human trafficking cases. These investigations have led to 169 arrests and chargesheets filed against 132 individuals. 

The NIA’s Anti-Human Trafficking Division has a mandate to tackle trafficking across India and has successfully apprehended significant traffickers in Haryana and Punjab on 7 August, and in Himachal Pradesh on 2 October.

The Minister also highlighted that Punjab remains the state with the highest number of trafficking incidents. The Punjab government has established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and a fact-finding committee to examine such cases.

EAM said 25 First Information Reports (FIRs) have been filed against 58 illegal travel agents.

In Haryana, authorities have arrested 16 accused in 202 separate cases, while Himachal Pradesh has also registered multiple FIRs and made significant arrests. Across these states, coordinated action has resulted in the apprehension of some of the most active human traffickers operating in the region.

Jaishankar emphasised that both the NIA and state authorities are actively working to dismantle human trafficking networks. He underlined the importance of continued vigilance and strict enforcement to protect vulnerable Indian citizens from exploitation, both within the country and abroad.

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