India has protested the US handling of Indian deportees, who arrived handcuffed and shackled from San Antonio in a military plane on February 5, confirmed the government while officially announcing PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington on February 12-13.

Authorities are searching for a Bering Air passenger plane with 10 people on board that was reported missing while en route from Unalakleet to Nome, Alaska's Department of Public Safety said on Thursday.

The deportation came a week before Trump is expected to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington. All immigrants, barring children, were handcuffed during the flight, The Times of India and the Indian Express newspapers reported,

After outrage over the treatment meted out to Indian deportees from the US, which echoed in Parliament as well, external affairs minister S Jaishankar strongly defended in both Houses India's decision to accept illegal migrants sent back in an American military plane,

Several opposition MPs on Thursday slammed the government for the way Indians staying illegally in the United States were deported, questioning the treatment meted out to them

The U.S. has deported 104 Indian migrants, sparking political controversy in India. External affairs minister S. Jaishankar met PM Modi to discuss the situation, while the opposition demands a discussion in Parliament.