HYDERABAD: Eighteen more students from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh returned Hyderabad after being deported by the American authorities.

The students, who had gone to the US to join various universities, were sent back from New York airport after cancelling their visas. They returned to Hyderabad airport by three different airlines.

They complained of interrogation and ill-treatment by the officials of U.S. Customs and Border Protection at John F Kennedy Airport International Airport, though all their documents were valid.

The students said they were detained for several hours without drinking water and food.

One of the students said though it was freezing temperature, the officials did not heed to their request to switch off the fans. He said the officers carrying guns subjected them to interrogation.

They said the officials threatened to bar their entry into U.S. for five years, if they fail to withdraw and return home.

The students claimed that no reason was given for not sending them back, though they gave satisfactory reply to all the questions asked and despite possessing all valid documents.

“One officer said he was doing this on the boss’ order,” said a student, who did not wish to be named.

Another student who had gone to join Northwestern Polytechnic University, California said the officers told him that there is a problem with his visa. “They asked me if I bought the visa,” he said.

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