Nawanshahr youth returns home after month-long torture in Iran
Jaspal Singh, one of the three youths from Punjab who was reportedly abducted and held captive in Iran, has finally returned to his hometown of Langroya, Nawanshahr. Reunited with his family after a harrowing month-long ordeal, Singh shared his traumatic experience, describing the physical and emotional toll of captivity.
“I had lost hope of returning home,” Singh said with voice heavy and full of emotion. “We had been tortured for a month. Some things were so horrifying, I can’t even share these with my family or anyone.”
Singh, a father of two children — aged three years and three months— spoke of the daily torment he endured, which continues to affect his health. “I am undergoing X-rays and scans. I am in constant pain, and my health doesn’t feel right,” he said, adding that he was still in shock.
“Those memories are haunting me. They took everything — my clothes, shoes, even a small piece of gold jewellery I had.”
He and two other youths from Punjab endured torture. During their confinement, Singh said they talked to one another for emotional support and found solace in prayer. “We held hands when we were being tortured and did ardas day and night. That was the only thing that kept us going,” he said.
Singh was one of the three Punjabi youths who had set out on a journey to seek a better future overseas. Like many others chasing the dream of a prosperous life abroad, he had aspirations to reach Australia. He approached a travel agent based in Hoshiarpur, who promised to arrange his passage. Singh’s family collected ₹18 lakh through loans and savings and handed it over to the agent.
However, the journey took a tragic turn. Instead of reaching his intended destination, Singh found himself trapped in Iran.
Their ordeal finally ended on June 1, when they were rescued by the authorities and brought under the protection of the Indian Embassy. “Soon after we were rescued, the war between Iran and Israel started. It was terrifying. But embassy officials took good care of us and made us feel safe during that time,” Singh recalled.
The episode had left the family emotionally shattered. Singh’s wife, mother and children had spent the past month in anguish, unsure if they would ever see him again. His return has brought relief to them.
This incident serves as a grim reminder of the growing number of youth in Punjab who fall prey to unscrupulous agents in their pursuit of opportunities abroad. While Jaspal Singh is now safe, he still faces a long road to recovery — both physically and emotionally.
Youth returns from Iran, father thanks ex-MP
Former Rajya Sabha MP Avinash Rai Khanna played a pivotal role in securing the safe return of Simardeep Singh, a Ludhiana-based youth, who was stranded in Iran.
The matter came to light when Simardeep’s father, a well-known industrialist from Ludhiana, approached Khanna a few days back. Deeply concerned for his son’s safety, he requested Khanna’s urgent intervention. Khanna said he immediately escalated the issue with the Prime Minister’s Office and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, urging them to intervene.
He said with the effective liaison with the Ministry of External Affairs proved instrumental in facilitating Simardeep’s inclusion in the evacuation process. As a result, Simardeep was brought back to India safely, much to the relief of his family.
Jalandhar