Haryana Youths' Costly 'Dunki' Dream: Spent Lakhs To Reach US, Got Deported After 14 Months In Jail

The 'dunki' dream turned into a nightmare for 50 Haryana youths after they were arrested immediately upon crossing into the US and spent the next 14 months in jail before being deported to India in handcuffs.Out

of the deported group, 16 youths are said to be from Karnal, 14 from Kaithal, five from Kurukshetra, three from Jind, and others from Ambala, Panipat, and nearby districts, as per a report.Among the deportees was Naresh Kumar, who had sold his agricultural land and paid a hefty sum to an agent to reach the US via the Panama jungle. A TOI report quoted Kumar as saying, "I sold my agricultural land and paid an agent Rs 57 lakh to go to the US via the Panama jungle route. After spending 14 months in jail, I was deported."Kumar, from Kaithal, said that the agent extorted sums of lakhs of money from him every step of the way. "He took Rs 42 lakh initially, then Rs 6 lakh in Guatemala, another Rs 6 lakh when I reached Mexico, and the rest was taken when we crossed the border. But instead of helping me reach the US safely, they got me arrested and put in jail," he said.Kumar has now appealed to authorities to take action against the agent and also urged others not to take the illegal 'dunki' route.Karnal DSP Sandeep Kumar said, "The youths were brought from the Delhi airport by CM squad personnel and handed over to their families at the police lines."Kaithal SP Upasana confirmed that all deportees have been reunited with their families and that background checks are underway. "All records are being checked thoroughly and one person was found to have a criminal background," a police official said.Jind SP Kuldeep Singh said, "Travelling abroad through the 'dunki' route is a serious criminal offence and also tarnishes the image of our society. Such illegal journeys not only lead to financial loss but also pose a grave threat to life. In many cases, youths face physical abuse, fraud, and even death along the way."He urged residents to pursue overseas opportunities through legal means. "Anyone who wishes to go abroad should always do so through legal and proper channels," he said.