- By Imran Zafar
- Tue, 11 Mar 2025 08:37 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Two young men from Haryana and Punjab, who were attempting to migrate to the United States illegally through Central America, have reportedly been kidnapped in Guatemala. The abductors have demanded a ransom of USD 20,000 for their release. Distressed families have urged the Indian government to intervene and secure their safe return.
The Haryana Police has initiated legal proceedings, filing a case against local travel agents suspected of orchestrating their journey. Kuldeep Singh, father of one of the victims, Yuvraj Singh from Mohna village in Haryana’s Kaithal district, approached Superintendent of Police (SP) Rajesh Kalia seeking urgent action.
Yuvraj had embarked on his journey to the US in October last year, believing he was taking a legal route facilitated by travel agents. Kuldeep Singh revealed that the kidnappers sent him a distressing video showing his son being tortured at gunpoint. The abductors are demanding USD 20,000 for his release, with fluctuating amounts being quoted at different times, reported The New Indian Express.
According to Kuldeep Singh, three travel agents, including one from Kurukshetra, had promised to arrange a legal route for his son’s migration. Singh initially paid Rs 2 lakh, with the total deal amounting to Rs 41 lakh. Over time, he transferred additional payments totaling Rs 22 lakh as per their demands.
Singh further alleged that the agents, who had initially remained in contact, gradually disappeared. "They first said the kidnappers wanted USD 20,000, then changed their claim to USD 40,000. These agents are clearly in league with the abductors," he asserted. Singh lamented that his family has not spoken to his son since December, the report added.
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The second abducted youth hails from Dasuaya in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district. His family, too, received a similar ransom video in December and reached out to the agents, only to find them missing.
Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kalia confirmed that a First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against the travel agents. Local leader Davinder Singh Cheema stated that despite multiple efforts by the families and community representatives to get in touch with the agents, they remain untraceable.
Authorities have assured that they are taking legal action against those responsible and are also communicating with higher authorities to facilitate the safe return of the kidnapped individuals.