Karnal (Haryana) [India], November 6 (HBTV): The Karnal Police have registered a complaint against two agents accused of human trafficking after a disturbing video surfaced from Iran showing two men from Haryana being brutally beaten and stripped by human traffickers, commonly referred to as ‘donkers’.
Karnal Superintendent of Police, Ganga Ram Punia, confirmed that a case has been filed and efforts are underway to secure the victims’ release. The police have forwarded the details to higher authorities to facilitate the rescue operation.
‘All documents related to this case have been requested. The matter is being investigated. The cases have been registered at the Nigdu police station and the Sadar police station. We have also sent details to higher authorities so that both men can be rescued,’ the SP said.
The victims have been identified as 24-year-old Ritik from Jamba village and 40-year-old Pawan from Dadupur village in Karnal district. Both men were allegedly deceived by local agents who promised to send them to Spain for employment via the illegal ‘donkey route’—a dangerous human smuggling network that transports migrants across multiple countries without valid documentation.
According to police reports, Ritik and Pawan left their homes on October 22, hoping to reach Spain for better work opportunities. Their route took them from India to Kolkata, then to Bangkok, and eventually to Iran. Before reaching their destination, they were intercepted by traffickers who held them captive.
The traffickers sent a video of the men being tortured to their families, demanding a ransom of INR 20 lakh for their release. The traffickers further threatened to remove and sell the victims’ kidneys if the ransom was not paid.
The families of the victims approached the Karnal Police, pleading for immediate action and alleging that the men had fallen prey to fraudulent agents operating in the region. The police subsequently registered cases under sections related to human trafficking, cheating, and criminal conspiracy.
Superintendent Punia said that police teams are coordinating with central agencies and international authorities to trace the victims and ensure their safe return. ‘We are in touch with higher officials, and every possible step is being taken to bring them back safely,’ he stated.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the growing problem of human trafficking and illegal immigration networks operating across Haryana and Punjab. These networks often target unemployed youth seeking overseas employment, luring them with false promises of lucrative jobs in countries like Spain, Italy, or Canada, and then abandoning or exploiting them during the journey.
Local sources indicate that traffickers—commonly referred to as ‘donkers’—charge anywhere between INR 10 lakh to INR 25 lakh per person for such illegal journeys. The victims are usually flown to transit countries such as Thailand, Iran, or Turkey, from where they are moved across borders through dangerous terrains, often without food, water, or valid papers.
The Karnal Police have urged residents not to fall victim to such fraudulent schemes and to verify all immigration or recruitment agents before making any overseas employment arrangements. ‘We appeal to all families to educate their children about the risks of illegal migration. Such agents exploit people’s desperation and put lives in danger,’ the police said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the families of Ritik and Pawan remain hopeful that the government will intervene swiftly. Both families have called for strong action against the agents who deceived their sons and demanded stricter regulation of overseas recruitment operations.
As the investigation progresses, the case highlights the urgent need for greater public awareness, legal deterrents against trafficking agents, and international cooperation to dismantle cross-border smuggling networks that continue to prey on India’s youth.
(ANI)