In brief
Families of three Indian men report a worrying kidnapping incident in Tehran, linked to illegal immigration schemes promising jobs in Australia.
The Iranian Embassy in India has initiated an investigation regarding the mysterious disappearance of three Indian nationals in Tehran earlier this month. Hailing from Punjab, the men were in transit to Australia, having been enticed by promises of lucrative employment through a local travel agent. Their families accuse unknown assailants of kidnapping them upon arrival and demanding a ransom of 5 million rupees (approximately $63,000 or £47,000).In response to the alarming situation, the Iranian Embassy announced on social media that it is actively communicating with Indian authorities about the ongoing case and has cautioned citizens against falling prey to illegal immigration routes. "Given the nature of this incident, Indian citizens are strongly advised not to be deceived by the promises of unauthorized individuals or illegal Indian agencies offering travel to other countries," the embassy warned in its statement.This development follows the Indian Embassy’s strong intervention, as they urge Iranian officials to ensure the immediate tracing and safety of the three missing men. Numerous Indians, particularly from Punjab, seek opportunities abroad but sometimes become victims of scams organized by travel agents, who charge hefty fees and use unsafe or illegal channels.Gurdeep Kaur, mother of the 23-year-old Amritpal Singh, detailed the sequence of events behind her son’s troubling situation. Gurdeep and her family had hired an agent from Hoshiarpur to secure an Australian work permit for Amritpal. According to her narration, the agent later claimed Amritpal's visa was approved and requested 1.8 million rupees as payment. A few flight changes ensued before Amritpal and two fellow travelers were unexpectedly booked on a flight to Iran, depicted as a mere layover on their journey to Australia.Upon their arrival in Tehran, Amritpal initially informed his family of his safe arrival, but shortly thereafter, he alerted them of a kidnapping before the call was abruptly cut off. Amidst growing worries, Gurdeep reported that attempts to contact the travel agents resulted in vague responses, and the agents subsequently disappeared. The family soon started receiving video calls purportedly from the kidnappers, showing the men in a distressed state and demanding escalating ransom amounts. While they have yet to pay any ransom, family members have lodged a police complaint against the involved agents, and the local police have launched a search operation.Meanwhile, in Dhuri village, the home of Husanpreet Singh—a fellow missing man—stands locked. His maternal grandmother has been seeking assistance from relatives as the situation unfolds. The Indian embassy in Tehran is committed to providing updates to the families, as India strengthens its efforts to clamp down on travel agents implicated in illegal immigration scams, especially following significant repatriation efforts for undocumented Indians from abroad in recent times.
