In a shocking international crime case, four residents from Manasa taluka in Gandhinagar district, Gujarat, have reportedly been kidnapped in Iran while they were attempting to travel to Australia through illegal immigration routes. The victims’ families, who live in Bapupura village, received a disturbing video showing the kidnapped victims beaten and stripped, along with a ransom demand of ₹2 crore (about USD 240,000) from the abductors.
Families Receive Torture Video, Ransom Demand from Iran
According to the victims’ families, a man identifying himself as “Baba” contacted them from Iran and demanded ₹2 crore for the safe release of their loved ones. Along with the call, the families received a distressing video clip showing the four captives lying naked, face down on the ground, with their hands and faces tied with cloth, and visible marks of torture on their backs.
The families immediately informed Manasa MLA J.S. Patel, who has written a formal letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking urgent intervention from the Indian government and the Ministry of External Affairs to rescue the victims.
Who Are the Victims?
As per the details shared by local sources and the MLA’s letter, the four abducted individuals have been identified as:
- Ajaykumar Kantibhai Chaudhary
- Priyaben Ajaykumar Chaudhary
- Anilkumar Raghjibhai Chaudhary
- Nikhilkumar Ramanbhai Chaudhary
Three of them are from Bapupura village in Manasa taluka, while one belongs to Badpura village nearby. The group had reportedly left for Australia on October 19, hoping to secure better job opportunities abroad.
How the Journey Turned into a Nightmare
Sources revealed that the four travelers were first taken to Delhi, and from there, they boarded a flight via Emirates Airlines to Bangkok, Dubai, and then Tehran, Iran. They were allegedly being assisted by a local travel agent who promised to help them reach Australia. However, as soon as they arrived at the Tehran airport, the group was abducted by unknown men.
Reports suggest that the abduction may be linked to a Pakistan-based human trafficking network, which has previously been involved in sending Indian migrants abroad through illegal routes.
Pakistani Agent Suspected Behind the Crime
Local sources in Bapupura claim that a Pakistani agent could be behind this kidnapping. In earlier cases, the same agent allegedly helped a few people reach the United States but never received the full payment of ₹1.5 crore from his Indian counterpart. Believing he was cheated, the agent reportedly targeted the next batch of passengers who were planning to go to Australia — which included these four victims.
Insiders say that the families have already paid around ₹40 lakh to the kidnappers after receiving the ransom call, but the abductors are still demanding the remaining amount for the release of the captives.
Local Authorities Confirm the Incident
Speaking to local media, Bapupura village Sarpanch Prakashbhai confirmed the incident, stating,
“Yes, four people from our area, including a couple, have been kidnapped in Iran. The families have received videos and ransom calls demanding ₹2 crore. Our MLA has already written to the Home Minister requesting immediate action.”
The state and central governments have reportedly been alerted, and an official investigation through diplomatic channels is expected to be initiated soon.
Growing Concern Over Illegal Immigration from North Gujarat
This case has once again highlighted the rising number of illegal immigration attempts from north Gujarat villages, where many people fall prey to fraudulent travel agents who promise to send them to countries like Australia, Canada, or the US through unsafe routes. These migrants often end up trapped or exploited in foreign countries, facing extortion, imprisonment, or worse.
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Diplomatic Efforts Underway: Four People from Gujarat Kidnapped in Iran
The families are now urging the Indian Embassy in Tehran and the Ministry of External Affairs to intervene urgently. With a formal request already sent by MLA J.S. Patel to Amit Shah, the case is expected to be handled at the highest diplomatic level.
For now, the families in Bapupura live in constant fear, waiting for any sign of hope that their loved ones will return home safely.
