Land sold, sons deported: Future tense for families that once thrived on farming

We had no connection with him (Rohit) for the last two weeks. I am happy that he is alive Suresh Kumar, Rohit Sharma's father

- Sunil Rahar

ROHTAK: Three families in Haryana learned on Wednesday their sons were among 104 Indians being deported on a US military transport plane to Amritsar, each caught within weeks of crossing the border.

In Fatehabad's Digoh village, a pall of gloom descended at Gaganpreet's house when village sarpanch Harsimran Singh delivered the news to his father Sukhwinder Singh. The 24-year-old had reached America just last month, after initially going to the United Kingdom on a student visa in 2022.

"My son reached the US last month via the Dunki route from the UK. He was facing financial problems in the UK as he was allowed to work only 20 hours a week, which were not enough to bear the expenses. He jumped to the US to make our family financially sound," said Sukhwinder, who runs the family by selling milk from six buffaloes. The family had sold 2.5 acres of their 3.5-acre landholding to fund Gaganpreet's overseas education.