US visa-scam traps ASR youth in Iran hostage crisis

A young man from Amritsar, Gurpreet Singh, is currently being held hostage in Iran after falling victim to an international visa scam. The kidnappers have demanded a ransom of ₹50 lakh for his release.

Gurpreet, a resident of Granthgarh village in Ajnala Tehsil, left India on September 14, hoping to secure a UK visa through a man named Mohammad, whom he met on social media. Mohammad allegedly took Gurpreet's passport details and arranged a flight to Iran via Sharjah, assuring him that the visa process would be managed from Tehran.

However, shortly after Gurpreet's arrival in Iran, his family received a WhatsApp message and video call from an unknown number, showing him being held captive. In the video, Gurpreet is seen crying and pleading for help. The abductors, speaking in Punjabi, demanded ₹50 lakh for his release. Gurpreet's cousin, Amrit Singh, noted that the accent of the abductors appeared to be Pakistani Punjabi, raising suspicion that the gang may have cross-border links.

Gurpreet's father, Balkar Singh, expressed his distress, stating, "He is being beaten and forced to make video calls in distress. We are helpless and appeal to the government to intervene and bring him back safely."

The family believes Gurpreet is a victim of an organized gang that targets Punjabi youths with false promises of overseas settlement. They also claimed similar incidents occurred with youths from Hoshiarpur and Sangrur, who were eventually rescued after government intervention. The family has appealed to the Ministry of External Affairs and law enforcement agencies for immediate assistance.

This incident highlights the growing concern over international visa scams that exploit the aspirations of individuals seeking better opportunities abroad. Authorities are urged to take swift action to prevent such occurrences and ensure the safety of citizens.