Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran/New Delhi
Tehran/New Delhi, May 29: The Indian government confirmed on Thursday that it is actively engaging with Iranian authorities to locate three Indian nationals from Punjab who went missing shortly after arriving in Tehran earlier this month.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, speaking during a weekly media briefing, said, “The three Indian nationals who had landed there some time ago are missing. We are in touch with the Iranian authorities to locate them, ensure their safety and security, and facilitate their eventual return home. We are receiving good cooperation from the Iranian side and remain in daily contact with them. We are also in touch with the families and providing all possible assistance.”
The missing individuals have been identified as Jaspal Singh, Hushanpreet Singh, and Amritpal Singh—all hailing from Punjab. According to officials, they vanished on May 1, just after landing in Tehran.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Embassy of India in Iran confirmed that the families of the three men had reported them missing and that the embassy has taken up the matter strongly with Iranian authorities. “We are also keeping the family members regularly updated on the efforts being made,” the embassy stated.
Media reports indicate that the three had been promised a route to Australia via Dubai and Iran by an agent based in Punjab. The families allege that shortly after their arrival in Tehran, the men were kidnapped, and ransom demands of Rs 1 crore have been made. Disturbingly, the calls demanding ransom reportedly came from Pakistani phone numbers, raising further concerns.
This incident highlights growing fears around human trafficking networks using deceptive transit routes to smuggle individuals into other countries.
In light of the incident, the Indian government has reiterated its travel advisory for Iran, urging citizens to exercise caution and stay in touch with Indian diplomatic missions while traveling in the region.