NewsHail
30 May 2025
The Iranian Embassy is looking into the case of three Indian men who went missing in Tehran. The men are from Punjab and were on their way to Australia. They stopped in Iran on 1 May.
Their families say unknown people kidnapped them. The kidnappers are asking for 5 million rupees (about $63,000).
The Iranian Embassy said it is working with Indian officials. They warned people not to trust fake travel agents or illegal immigration plans.
The Indian Embassy in Iran said it has asked for the men to be found quickly.
Many people from Punjab go to other countries for work. Some use unsafe and illegal ways, often through dishonest agents.
Gurdeep Kaur said her 23-year-old son, Amritpal Singh, is one of the missing men. She said they paid an agent 1.8 million rupees for a work visa to Australia.
The agent gave different flight dates. On 1 May, Amritpal and two other men flew to Iran for a stopover. Amritpal called his mother after landing. He said a cab would take them to a hotel.
Later, he called again and said they had been kidnapped. Then the call ended. The family couldn’t reach him again.
They later got video calls showing the men injured and held in a room. At first, the kidnappers asked for 20 million rupees, but lowered it to 5.4 million. The family has not paid yet. They haven’t heard from the men in over 10 days.
Police have filed a case against the agents and are looking for them. The agents have disappeared.
Another missing man, Husanpreet Singh, lived in Dhuri village. His house is now locked. His grandmother is asking relatives for help.
India is cracking down on illegal travel agents. Many Indians have been sent back from countries like the US. Photos of deported migrants in chains made news for weeks.
