Dream of a New Life Turns into Iranian Nightmare
The dream of a better life abroad has curdled into a terrifying nightmare for several families in Haryana. What began as a hopeful journey for their sons has devolved into a desperate plea for help, as harrowing videos and frantic phone calls reveal a grim reality: their loved ones are being held captive in Iran, allegedly by the very agents who promised them safe passage.
In a series of heart-wrenching appeals, families from various districts across Haryana have come forward, claiming their sons are being tortured and held for ransom by “donkers”—a colloquial term for the human traffickers who facilitate illegal immigration through the perilous “donkey route.”
Harrowing Videos and Extortion Demands
According to the distraught relatives, the young men were lured with promises of lucrative jobs in developed countries. They paid hefty sums, often running into several lakhs of rupees, to these agents who chart a dangerous, clandestine path across multiple international borders. The journey took a sinister turn when the group reached Iran.
“We received a video call that shattered our world,” said the father of one of the captive men, his voice trembling. “My son was being beaten. They showed us the torture and demanded more money. They said if we don’t pay the ransom, we will never see him again. We sold our land to send him abroad for a better future, and now we have nothing left.”
This account is echoed by several other families who have received similar videos and ransom demands. The footage reportedly shows the men in distress, pleading with their families to meet the captors’ demands and begging the Indian government for intervention.
The Perils of the ‘Donkey Route‘
The term “donker” and the “donkey route” (or dunki route) refers to a high-risk, illegal immigration network. It’s a treacherous gamble taken by many, fuelled by desperation and the allure of overseas employment. These agents often operate with impunity across a web of countries, treating human lives as commodities. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dark underbelly of this illegal trade, where the promise of a dream can quickly become a tool for extortion and violence.
Families Seek Urgent Government Help
Having exhausted their resources and options, the families have now turned to the Indian government as their last hope. They have submitted memorandums to local authorities and are appealing directly to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Prime Minister’s Office, and Haryana‘s Chief Minister to take immediate action. Their plea is simple and urgent: use all diplomatic channels to locate their sons and secure their safe release from their captors in Iran.
Navigating such a situation is a complex diplomatic challenge. Since the men entered Iran through illegal channels, their official status is precarious, complicating rescue efforts. For now, a cloud of fear and uncertainty hangs over these Haryana villages as they await a response from New Delhi.
