In a heartbreaking case of human trafficking, two Indian youths — Sahib Singh from Morian village in Dasuya (Punjab) and Yuvraj Singh from Haryana — were allegedly murdered in Guatemala by traffickers after their families failed to pay ransom money demanded for their release.
According to family members, 21-year-old Sahib Singh had left home in October 2024 with dreams of building a better life in the United States. His family sold their land, livestock, and jewellery to arrange nearly ₹45 lakh, the amount demanded by travel agents who promised to send him to America through what they claimed were safe routes.
However, the journey turned into a nightmare. Sahib’s brother-in-law, Gurdeep Singh, said that Sahib and several others were taken captive by human traffickers — commonly known as “donkers” — after reaching Guatemala. The kidnappers reportedly recorded videos of their torture and sent them to their families, demanding ransom for their release.
“Since we couldn’t arrange the ransom amount, the traffickers killed Sahib and another youth, Yuvraj Singh from Haryana,” Gurdeep said. The grieving family learned about the tragic deaths only a few days ago.
Sahib Singh was the only son of his parents and the sole brother of two sisters. His father, Sucha Singh, has appealed to the authorities to ensure justice for his son and demanded strict legal action against the travel agents responsible for deceiving and endangering him.
The incident has once again highlighted the growing menace of illegal immigration networks operating in Punjab and Haryana, which lure unemployed youths with false promises of a prosperous life abroad.