Iran Probes Disappearance of Indian Nationals Allegedly Kidnapped

Families allege that their loved ones were kidnapped upon arrival in Iran, demanding a ransom for their safe return. An investigation is underway as Indian authorities and the Iranian Embassy cooperate to resolve the situation.

The Iranian Embassy in India has announced an investigation into the mysterious disappearance of three Indian nationals in Tehran earlier this month. The trio, hailing from Punjab, was reportedly en route to Australia for lucrative job offers facilitated by a local travel agent. Their families claim that they were abducted by unidentified assailants upon arriving in Iran, and that a ransom of 5 million rupees (approximately $63,000 or £47,000) is being demanded for their release.

In a statement made on X, the Iranian Embassy assured that it is updating Indian officials about the situation “within the judicial system” while also issuing a warning against the perils of choosing illegal immigration routes. The statement comes following the Indian Embassy’s insistence that Iranian authorities expedite the search for the missing men and secure their safety.

Many Indians, especially from Punjab, often seek employment opportunities abroad, but a significant number fall victim to deceptive practices by unscrupulous travel agents, resulting in financial exploitation and unsafe travel routes.

Gurdeep Kaur, mother of 23-year-old Amritpal Singh, detailed her son’s ordeal. They had engaged a travel agent in Hoshiarpur for an Australian work visa, which they were initially informed had been approved. However, complications arose regarding flight bookings. Ultimately, on May 1, the agent sent Amritpal and two others to Iran under the pretext of a stopover for their Australian journey.

After arriving in Iran, Amritpal contacted his mother, reporting that they had landed safely, but an hour later, she received another call indicating that he had been kidnapped. Soon after, communication ceased when the call ended abruptly. Desperate for answers, the family attempted to reach out to the travel agents, only to receive vague responses. They later discovered that the agents had vanished, and their homes and offices had been locked down.

Kaur recounted receiving video calls from alleged kidnappers who presented her son and the other men, visibly beaten, demanding a ransom that initially began at 20 million rupees but was eventually reduced. Gurdev Singh, Amritpal’s uncle, expressed concern, noting that more than ten days had passed without contact from the men, and the family has yet to pay the ransom.

In response, a police complaint has been lodged against the travel agents, and a thorough investigation is currently under way, as emphasized by Gursahib Singh, a local police officer in Hoshiarpur. Meanwhile, in Dhuri village, the home of Husanpreet Singh, another man involved, remains locked, with his grandmother seeking assistance from relatives.

The Indian embassy in Tehran continues to keep the families apprised of developments as the search efforts intensify. Following a spike in illegal immigration cases in India, authorities have intensified crackdowns on travel agents, particularly those involved in fraudulent schemes, after numerous deportations of undocumented Indians from the US garnered significant media attention.