NEW DELHI: Two youths from Rajpura in Patiala district, who were among 116 individuals deported by the US in a C-17 aircraft that landed at the Amritsar airport on Saturday night, have been arrested in connection with a murder case, police said on Sunday.
The accused individuals, Sandeep Singh alias Sunny and Pradeep Singh, were wanted in a murder case registered in 2023, senior superintendent of police (SSP), Nanak Singh, said whilst confirming their arrest from the Amritsar airport.
The case against Sandeep and four others was registered in Rajpura in June 2023. During investigation, the name of Pradeep, another accomplice of Sandeep, was added to the FIR.
A team under the leadership of the SHO of Rajpura police station was dispatched to the Amritsar airport on Saturday to apprehend the two suspects.
The US military aircraft carrying 116 illegal Indian immigrants, including 65 from Punjab, landed in Amritsar at 11.35 pm on Saturday.
It was the second batch of Indians to be deported by the Donald Trump administration after February 5 as part of its crackdown on illegal immigrants.
The police officials had received intelligence about the arrival of these suspects on the deportation flight. The law enforcement team maintained strict vigilance at the airport premises to ensure the successful arrest operation. The accused were taken into custody immediately upon their arrival.
The authorities have confirmed that both suspects will face legal proceedings in accordance with the existing criminal case.
The police department has expressed satisfaction over the successful coordination between various agencies that led to this arrest.
The deportation flight carrying the illegal immigrants was part of the ongoing efforts by US authorities to address.