Kaithal police rescue two youths held hostage abroad for ransom

The special detective unit of Kaithal police rescued two youths who had been held hostage abroad for ransom. The rescued victims have been identified as Somil Singh of Sisla village in Kaithal and Naveen Mor of Chhattar village in Jind district.

They landed at Delhi airport this morning after being freed with the help of the Indian Embassy in Tehran. However, no arrest has been made so far in this case.

While interacting with mediapersons, Kaithal Superintendent of Police (SP) Upasana said that on September 7, both the victims travelled to Iran through Jaipur, Sharjah and Tehran airports, en route to Australia. A deal had been finalised for Rs 22 lakh for each.

The agents misled them with fake Australian visas and tickets, assuring the families that their departure to Australia would be arranged soon.

On September 11, the families received WhatsApp calls from the victims’ numbers, informing them that both had been kidnapped and a ransom of Rs 80 lakh was demanded. They were threatened that the victims would either be killed or sold in Afghanistan if the money was not paid.

The kidnappers repeatedly called from Pakistan-based and other international numbers and even sent torture videos of the victims. Under pressure, the families initially paid Rs 10 lakh and later Rs 35 lakh.

Meanwhile, the victims’ relatives approached then SP Astha Modi, who assured them of police assistance. A case was registered at Titaram police station and the investigation was handed over to the Special Detective Unit, the SP added.

With the help of cyber cell analysis, data collection and continuous coordination through central agencies, Kaithal police maintained contact with the Indian Embassy in Tehran. Finally, on September 22, a team led by SI Ramesh Singh and ASI Tarsem Kumar, with the embassy’s support, ensured the rescue of both youths.

After completing necessary formalities in Iran, they were flown back to India, she maintained.

Medical examinations confirmed that the victims were severely tortured. Their statements have been recorded in court. Police investigation revealed that several other Indian youths were also lured into Iran in a similar manner with families paying ransoms to secure their release, the SP said.

SP Upasana assured that no accused would be spared and strict action would be taken against anyone linked to this network in India. She appealed to the public, especially young people aspiring to go abroad, to avoid unauthorised agents and rely only on registered travel agencies and valid legal procedures. Citizens have also been urged to immediately inform the police of any suspicious or fraudulent activities.

“The safety of our citizens is our priority. Kaithal police are committed to protecting people and ensuring that such criminals are brought to justice,” SP Upasana said.