Family in Distress as Nawanshahr Man Jaspal Singh Is Held Hostage in Iran After Trafficking Scam

Ravi Singh

A heartbreaking ordeal has engulfed a family from Langroya village in Punjab’s Nawanshahr district, as their 32-year-old son, Jaspal Singh, remains held hostage in Iran. Jaspal, a father of two young children—one just three months old and the other three years old—had harboured dreams of building a better future abroad. His journey began with trust placed in a Hoshiarpur-based travel agent who promised him a path to Australia. The family, hopeful and determined, managed to arrange Rs 18 lakh to fulfil his dream. But what awaited Jaspal was not a land of opportunity, but a nightmare of betrayal, fear, and violence.

According to Jaspal’s elder brother Ashok Kumar, the chain of events took a dark turn after Jaspal was first sent to Dubai, where he was kept confined in a room for nearly a month. He was then transported to Iran, and as soon as he landed, he was allegedly kidnapped. The trauma began unfolding for the family on the night of May 1. At 2 am, Jaspal made a distressing call asking them all to stay awake before abruptly cutting the line. Just an hour later, another call followed. This time, Jaspal revealed that he, along with two others, had been kidnapped and that the abductors were demanding an additional Rs 18 lakh for his release.

What followed was a harrowing 15-day period during which the family received repeated video calls. On each call, they saw Jaspal being mercilessly beaten, crying out in agony, and pleading for help. The family was left emotionally shattered and helpless. They registered a police complaint and alerted the authorities, but hope is dwindling. For the past 14 days, they haven’t received a single call or update. The silence is unbearable. “We don’t know whether he’s alive or not,” said Ashok, with anguish clouding his voice.

The family’s suffering highlights the dark underbelly of illegal immigration and human trafficking. The desperation for a better life often blinds young people and their families to the dangers lurking behind false promises. As they continue to wait with bated breath for any sign of Jaspal, they urge the Indian government and concerned authorities to intervene urgently and rescue their son from this terrifying ordeal.