Three Punjab youths abducted after being diverted from Italy route, $70,000 ransom sought
A promised path to Italy has allegedly turned into a cross-border kidnapping ordeal for three young men from Punjab, with their families claiming they are being held captive after being diverted through Dubai and parts of East Africa. According to the families, the captors are now demanding $70,000 for their release.
The matter has drawn the attention of Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Singh Sandhu, who stepped in after Kashmir Lal, father of one of the missing youths, Rakesh Kumar, sought official help.
Rakesh Kumar, Surinder, and Avtar left India on August 4, reportedly believing they were headed toward an overseas job opportunity in Italy. Instead, their relatives allege, the route changed dramatically after departure.
From Italy promise to alleged hostage crisis
Family members say the three were first taken to Dubai and then moved toward Kenya and Uganda, rather than being sent to Italy as originally promised. They allege the men were later handed over to a kidnapping group, physically assaulted, and held for ransom.
The relatives have also claimed that individuals linked to Pakistan may be involved in the alleged abduction. However, these allegations have not been independently verified.
Complaint reaches MP, authorities may be approached
Sandhu said he received a written complaint from Rakesh Kumar’s father, a resident of a village near Jalandhar. The MP said he plans to take up the case with the Ministry of External Affairs and also request action from the Punjab Police.
The families’ immediate priority is clear: establish the youths’ whereabouts and secure their safe return without being forced to negotiate directly with those demanding money.
Money trail points to agent network
At the center of the case is an alleged payment of around Rs 9.5 lakh, which the family says was paid upfront to an agent who promised to arrange overseas travel and employment.
According to the complaint, the agent is originally from Punjab but is currently based in Italy. The family claims that two of the three youths met this agent in Dubai before the situation spiraled in a different direction.
Relatives allege that after this meeting, the three men were moved onward through East Africa and ultimately into the custody of another group. Soon after, the families say they received a demand for $70,000 in exchange for the youths’ freedom.
Raises wider concerns over risky migration routes
The case once again highlights the dangers faced by young Punjabis who spend large amounts of money on informal agent networks in the hope of securing jobs, residency, or migration opportunities abroad.
Sandhu described the incident as a serious warning sign about loosely monitored international travel chains that can leave migrants vulnerable to trafficking, extortion, and organised crime. He said authorities need to examine how an agent allegedly operating from Punjab and abroad could arrange a route spanning multiple countries while exposing travellers to such risks.
The Punjab Police are also expected to scrutinize the role of the agent accused of collecting money from the families. Any official investigation would likely focus on the travel arrangements, financial transactions, international contacts, and the sequence of movement from India to Dubai and then toward East Africa.
Families await urgent intervention
For now, the case remains centered on the fate of the three missing youths. Their families insist they paid for a legitimate route to Italy, only to find their sons thousands of kilometres away and allegedly in the hands of kidnappers.
With the reported ransom demand hanging over them, the families are pressing for swift intervention from Indian authorities, hoping diplomatic and law enforcement channels can trace the youths and bring them back safely.
