Iran Launches Investigation into Disappearance of Indian Nationals Promised Jobs in Australia

Three Indian nationals went missing in Iran after being promised lucrative jobs in Australia, prompting an investigation by Iranian authorities. Their families claim they were kidnapped and held for ransom, raising alarms about illegal immigration scams.

The Iranian Embassy in India is actively investigating the mysterious disappearance of three Indian nationals who allegedly went missing in Tehran this month. Hailing from Punjab, these individuals had a stopover in Iran on May 1 while en route to Australia for what was promised to be high-paying employment, arranged by a local travel agent. Disturbingly, their families allege that upon arrival, they were abducted by unidentified kidnappers demanding a ransom of 5 million rupees (around $63,000 or £47,000).

In response to the alarming situation, the Iranian Embassy released a statement on X, assuring that they are communicating all updates with Indian authorities and cautioning against the perils of illegal immigration practices. “Given the nature of this incident, Indian citizens are strongly advised not to be deceived by the promises of unauthorised individuals or illegal Indian agencies offering travel to other countries,” the advisory stated.

Prior to this, the Indian embassy in Tehran had urgently raised the matter with Iranian officials, requesting that they assist in tracing the missing men and guaranteeing their safety. The situation draws attention to the plight of many Indians, especially in Punjab, who often seek better opportunities abroad but fall prey to unscrupulous agents who charge exorbitant fees and send them on treacherous and illegal paths with inadequate documentation.

Gurdeep Kaur shared the distressing details of how her 23-year-old son, Amritpal Singh, became engulfed in this terrifying scenario. After hiring a travel agent from Hoshiarpur to secure an Australian work visa, the family was assured of the visa's approval and asked to pay a sum of 1.8 million rupees. "They claimed they had booked a flight from Delhi to Australia on April 26,” she recounted. However, after multiple flight rebookings and delays, Amritpal was eventually told to fly through Iran, where he would transition to another flight.

Upon arrival in Tehran, Amritpal made a brief call home to report his safe arrival, only to contact them again shortly after, in a panic, stating he had been kidnapped. This call was abruptly cut off, and the family lost all communication with him and the other two men. Despite efforts to reach the travel agents, the families received only evasive responses, and soon learned that the agents had vanished, locking up their offices.

Within days, the families began receiving distressing video calls from the kidnappers, showing the three men in captivity, bearing visible signs of mistreatment. Initial ransom demands reached as high as 20 million rupees but later settled at 5.4 million. "It has been more than 10 days since we last heard from them," stated Gurdev Singh, Amritpal's uncle, expressing deep concern for the safety of the young men.

Authorities have since filed a police complaint against the travel agents responsible and initiated a search for the missing individuals. Gursahib Singh, a police officer from Hoshiarpur, confirmed, “The search for the three men is on. They are on the run, but we are conducting searches." Meanwhile, families like Husanpreet Singh's, another missing man, are left in anguish, scrambling for support in times of crisis. The Indian embassy remains committed to keeping families abreast of any developments as the investigation unfolds.

As India intensifies its efforts to combat human trafficking and illegal immigration, concerns mount, especially following the recent repatriation of many undocumented Indians from the United States amid tighter immigration regulations. Controversial images of these migrants returning home have stirred public sentiment, shining a light on the risks and harsh realities faced by those seeking better lives abroad.