Hoshiarpur, May 28– In a shocking case of human trafficking, three young men from Punjab — hailing from Hoshiarpur, Sangrur, and Shaheed Bhagat Singh (SBS) Nagar — have reportedly been held captive in Iran by traffickers demanding hefty ransoms from their families.
According to a police complaint filed by Gurdip Kaur, a resident of Bhagowal, her 23-year-old son Amritpal Singh was duped by Piplanwala-based travel agents Dheeraj and Kamal Attwal. The agent brothers allegedly promised to arrange a work permit visa to Australia and took ₹18 lakh in advance.
“Amritpal left Delhi airport on May 1 along with two other boys — Husanpreet Singh from Sangrur and Jaspal Singh from SBS Nagar,” Gurdip said. “On May 2, he called to say he had reached Iran and would soon be sent to Australia. But just an hour later, he called again and said they had been captured. The captors were demanding money, claiming the agents hadn’t paid them.”
She added that the traffickers made video calls using the phones of the three youths, during which they were seen being beaten. “They are now asking each family to send ₹18 lakh through MoneyGram for their release,” Gurdip said.
When approached for help, the accused travel agents were found to have fled their homes, and their phones remain switched off, she told police.
Following her complaint, an FIR was registered at the Model Town police station against the Attwal brothers and one of their employees. “Efforts are underway to arrest the absconding agents,” said Station House Officer Gursahib Singh.
The families have urged the Punjab government and central authorities to intervene and secure the release of their sons.
