Dreams of Australia Turn into Nightmare: 3 Punjab Youths Held Hostage in Iran

HOSHIAPUR:
In a distressing case of international human trafficking, three young men from Punjab — all lured by the promise of jobs in Australia — are allegedly being held captive in Tehran, Iran, by a cross-border agent racket with links to Pakistan. Their families claim the men are being tortured, with the kidnappers now demanding a ransom of ?18 lakh each for their release.

The three victims have been identified as Amritpal Singh (23) of Bhagowal Luda, Hoshiarpur; Jaspal Singh of Langroya, Nawanshehar; and Husanpreet Singh (27) of Sanagatpura, Sangrur.

According to a complaint filed with Model Town Police Station in Hoshiarpur, the men were duped by a group of local travel agents under the pretext of Australian work visas.

“They were sent to Dubai first and then illegally transported to Tehran. Since May 1, they have been forcibly confined. The captors, reportedly working with Pakistani handlers, are demanding the ransom be deposited in Pakistani bank accounts,” alleged Ashok Kumar, Jaspal’s brother.

Amritpal’s mother, Gurdeep Kaur, recalled that her son was promised an Australian visa, for which payments totalling nearly Rs 19 lakh were made in phases. “The agents told us the flight would be from Delhi on April 26. But it kept getting delayed. Finally, they gave him tickets to Dubai, and from there, he was moved to Iran. We were promised this was just ‘transit’, but it was all a big lie,” she said, her voice breaking with emotion.

The agents — identified as Dheeraj Atwal, Kamal Atwal and their associate Saavita Soya — are now absconding. Police have booked them under multiple sections, including the Punjab Travel Professional Regulation Act. “We are conducting raids. All three accused are currently on the run,” confirmed Inspector Gursahib Singh.

What began as a dream for a better future has turned into a nightmare for the families, who have since received horrifying video calls from their sons, showing bruises and pleading for help. “They were stripped, tortured, and then forced to beg for ransom in front of the camera,” said Manpreet Singh, cousin of Husanpreet. “We approached police multiple times. An FIR was finally lodged only on May 16.”

The incident has sent shockwaves across the region. Locals and rights activists are urging the state and central governments to intervene immediately and engage diplomatic channels to ensure the safe return of the three men.

“They told us their captors are Pakistanis, and if the money is not sent soon, they will never return. We need urgent help — from the Punjab government, the Ministry of External Affairs, anyone who can act,” pleaded Yudhvir Singh, a relative who accompanied Amritpal to the airport in Delhi.

With each passing day, the hope dims, and the desperation grows for three families in Punjab waiting for a miracle to bring their sons back from the clutches of an international trafficking ring.