2 youths from Punjab, Haryana killed in Gautemala after months of captivity

The truth emerged when relatives of another youth, Yuvraj Singh from Haryana — who travelled with Sahib and also went missing — obtained information through Guatemala- and Mexico-based contacts. They were told that both were kidnapped in December and held by a Guatemala-based trafficking network which, investigators say, has links with three Haryana-based agents who organised their travel.

The family has now received a hospital certificate from Mexico with photographs that they identified as Sahib’s. The document does not name him but lists nationality as “Asian” and carries a date of March 4, 2025. Sucha Singh, Sahib’s father, a small farmer who owned four acres, said the photograph on the certificate is of his son. Also in the information from Mexico it was mentioned that three bodies were found and kept in the hospital.

Sahib had completed Class 12 and wanted to work in the US to support his family. “A relative in Haryana told us about an agent who could send him,” Sucha told The Indian Express, fighting back tears. “We sold part of our land to arrange money.”

Sahib and several others left India on October 13, 2024, allegedly through the illegal ‘Dunki’ route via the Darien Gap — a dangerous and unregulated journey used by many Indian youth to enter the United States through Latin American countries. The dunki route typically takes migrants through Dubai, Turkey, and several Central American countries like Ecuador, Guatemala, and Mexico, before attempting to cross into the US. Many are kidnapped, extorted, or killed by criminal gangs operating along the way.

Sahib and several others left India on October 13, 2024, allegedly through the illegal ‘Dunki ’ route via the Darien Gap. (Express Photo/ Screenshot)

Human trafficking networks with bases in Haryana, Punjab, and Gujarat are believed to be coordinating with international agents to send youth on these perilous journeys.

According to the family’s account, agents initially demanded ₹42 lakh, which was to be paid after his landing in the US. But with in 3-4 days of Sahib leaving India, the agent demanded the entire amount and the family paid it. After being told on December 19 that Sahib had reached Guatemala, they began receiving messages that Sahib got kidnapped and also received videos showing him and other migrants being beaten and tortured. The kidnappers then demanded an additional Rs 7 lakh for his release.

“I sold more land. In total, I sold 2.5 acres of four and spent Rs 49 lakh to pay them,” Sucha said, adding, “We believed he would be freed. Now he is dead. I have lost my son, my money and most of my land.”

Yuvraj’s, 18, family paid over Rs 8 lakh to the local travel agents to secure his release. Yuvraj’s maternal uncle, Gurpej Singh said, “After reaching Guhana, we paid Rs 16 lakh to the travel agents who had arranged a 21-day tourist visa. They were kidnapped in Guatemala on December 17, 2024, and were not released even after we paid Rs 8 lakh to local agents to be handed over to the donkers. The agents claimed the youths would soon be released, but we believe they never transferred any money to the donkers.”

He added, “We lodged a complaint against three local travel agents—Navjot Singh from Dusan village in Kaithal, Navneet Vaala from Hasanpur village in Kurukshetra, and Devender Cheema from Sangoha village in Karnal—alleging their involvement in the kidnapping. All three were arrested, leaving us without any contact with the kidnappers.”

Gurpej added, “Nearly 15 days ago, an agent named Paul, who identified himself as Nepali, demanded $5,000 to provide information about Yuvraj Singh. After we paid him $1,500, he revealed that they had already been killed. When we asked for proof, he demanded another $1,000 and sent us photos of their bodies and the death certificates.”

“After completing class 12, Yuvraj Singh dreamed of going to the US for a better life. But we couldn’t even recover his body for the last rites, despite spending over Rs 40 lakh—selling his mother’s jewellery and taking loans. We approached the authorities in Haryana, but it was all in vain,” Singh said.

Now that Sahib’s family believe he is dead, Sucha plans to perform a bhog in his village and is seeking help from Indian authorities. “I am not educated and do not know how to proceed,” he said. “I want the government to help obtain an official death record from Mexico and to take action against the agents who cheated us.”

Sucha said he plans to file a case in Punjab as well. “We waited for him for months. Now we only have a death certificate and the memories of our son.”