Iran Probes Disappearance of Three Indian Nationals in Tehran

The Iranian Embassy in India has announced it is investigating the case of three Indian nationals who have reportedly gone missing in Tehran earlier this month. The three men, all from the northern state of Punjab, were on their way to Australia on May 1, lured by promises of high-paying jobs from a local travel agent. Their families now allege that upon arrival, the men were kidnapped by unidentified individuals who are demanding a ransom of 5 million rupees (approximately $63,000 or £47,000). In a statement on X, the Iranian Embassy indicated that it is keeping Indian authorities updated on the case developments "within the judicial system" and cautioned against the risks associated with illegal immigration routes. It said, "In light of this incident, Indian citizens are urged not to fall victim to the false promises offered by unauthorized agents or illegal Indian agencies." The statement came shortly after the Indian embassy in Tehran expressed its concerns, urging Iranian authorities to urgently locate the missing men and ensure their safety.Many individuals from India, especially those in Punjab, seek employment in developed countries as a means of securing a better future. However, some fall prey to scams conducted by travel agents, who charge exorbitant fees and use unsafe or illegal pathways that often lack proper documentation. A mother, Gurdeep Kaur, shared her account about her 23-year-old son, Amritpal Singh, who has been missing. She stated the family had hired an agent in Hoshiarpur to obtain an Australian work permit for him. "Last month, we were informed that my son's visa had been approved and were asked for a payment of 1.8 million rupees," she recounted. The agent told them that Amritpal would fly from Delhi to Australia on April 26, but when he arrived at the airport, he was informed that his documents were still not ready. Amritpal was then rebooked on a flight for April 29, but that ticket was also claimed to be canceled. On May 1, he boarded a flight to Iran, described by the agent as a stopover before continuing to Australia. After landing, Amritpal initially called his mother to say he had arrived safely and was being taken to a hotel. Shortly after, however, he called back, stating he had been kidnapped. The call was abruptly disconnected, and he subsequently became unreachable.Following this alarming twist, Gurdeep and her family attempted to contact the travel agents, but received vague responses before they also went missing. They soon started to receive video calls from unknown individuals showing Amritpal and the other two men, who appeared to have sustained injuries. Initially, the kidnappers demanded 20 million rupees, but that amount was later lowered to 5.4 million rupees. As of now, the families have not paid any ransom. The police have filed a complaint against the travel agents involved, and the investigation is ongoing. Gursahib Singh, an officer with the Hoshiarpur police, reported that the search for the men is active. In the nearby village of Dhuri, the home of Husanpreet Singh, one of the missing men, remains locked, with family members searching for assistance. The Indian embassy in Tehran states that it is consistently keeping families updated. Recently, India has intensified efforts against travel agents associated with illegal immigration, particularly following incidents involving the deportation of undocumented Indians from the US. Images of these migrants returning home under distress had captured significant media attention.