Three Indian nationals who disappeared in Iran last month have been found and rescued, the Iranian Embassy in India confirmed on Tuesday. The embassy shared the news on X (formerly Twitter), citing local media sources in Tehran.
“Three missing Indian citizens freed by Tehran police,” the embassy posted. It added, “Local media in Iran say police have found and released three Indian men who had gone missing in Iran.”
Three missing Indian citizens freed by Tehran police
Local media in Iran say police have found and released three Indian men who had gone missing in Iran.https://t.co/YAkirkKRHg— Iran in India (@Iran_in_India) June 3, 2025
Victims Were En Route to Australia via Iran
Reports say the three men had travelled to Iran as part of their journey to Australia. A travel agency had promised them jobs overseas. However, the situation took a dangerous turn. The men were allegedly kidnapped on May 1 while passing through southern Tehran and were later rescued from the town of Varamin.
Identities Revealed
Media reports identified the rescued individuals as:
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Hushanpreet Singh from Sangrur
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Jaspal Singh from SBS Nagar
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Amritpal Singh from Hoshiarpur
All three hail from the Indian state of Punjab.
Kidnappers Allegedly Demanded Ransom
An India Today report revealed more disturbing details. According to the family of one of the men, the kidnappers demanded ransom money for their release. Hushanpreet’s mother, who lives in Sangrur, alleged that travel agents had taken money from the family, promising to send him to Australia. Instead, the agents reportedly sent him through Iran using the illegal “Dunki” route.
India’s Foreign Ministry Reacted Earlier
Last week, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed it was in contact with Iranian authorities about the disappearance. The rescue comes as a relief, but it also highlights the risks involved in illegal immigration routes and fraudulent travel agencies.