India, Feb. 7 -- "We were handcuffed and were told that we were being shifted to another camp. Confusion and anxiety gave way to shock when a large military plane came into view. Eventually the realisation dawned that we were being deported," said Kurukshetra's Robin Handa. A native of Ismailabad village of the district on Ambala-Hisar Road, 27-year-old's family spent nearly "Rs.42-43 lakh after selling 1-1.5 acres of farmland" with the hope that their son, who had completed a course in computers from an Industrial Training Institute, would find a better life in the US. "The agents promised to send me to the US in just a month, it took me seven months to reach there," Robin said. Recalling the treacherous route Robin said, "On the way through jungles, we went days without food. Our money was also snatched away by police or members of the mafia on the route." Robin was first taken to Guyana, from where he travelled to Brazil, crossed over to Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and finally reached the US border. "We crossed the US-Mexico border on January 22 and handed ourselves over to the border police like the agent had told me to," he said. "We were taken to a camp and were treated like criminals. Our luggage and some food items were already inside the plane, and we were made to get into the plane," he added. Handa admitted that he knew he was going to take the 'donkey' route, but was assured by the agent that it would take only a month and most of the journey would be by air. "We were ready to walk for a few hours, as told. But what we witnessed on the way was unimaginable. I don't have words to express.," the deportee said. Robin hoped the money he spent will be returned, so that he can start his life again. - Bhavey Nagpal...