Haryana Teen, Heading To US Via 'Dunki' Route, Killed In Guatemala After Being Held Captive

Last Updated:November 01, 2025, 20:25 IST

A Haryana boy was killed by "donkers" in Guatemala after taking the dunki route to the US. His family paid up to Rs 50 lakh to Haryana agents and traffickers for his release.

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An 18-year-old Haryana youth, who took the ‘dunki’ route to reach the United States in search of a job, has been killed by the ‘donkers’ in Guatemala. The boy left his home in Mohna village, Kaithal, for the US last year in October. As per his family, he was killed after allegedly being held captive by human traffickers in Guatemala.

Speaking to PTI, the boy’s family said they learned about his demise when one of the “donkers"—a term used for human traffickers—sent them a death certificate and photos of him and another youth from Punjab.

The victim, identified as Yuvraj, was the son of an agriculturist. His maternal uncle, Gurpej Singh, told PTI that the boy decided to go to America after he completed class 12.

‘Asked Ransom To Provide Proof Of Death’

This incident yet again shows the dark aftermaths of taking treacherous ‘dunki’ routes. Sharing further details, Gurpej said three Haryana-based travel agents had taken large sums of money from the family, promising a safe journey through other contacts in their network.

However, soon after the initial payment, Yuvraj’s family lost contact with him. Months later, they received videos showing him and another youth from Punjab being held hostage in Guatemala. The “donkers" asked for ransom, and the family sent the money through the Haryana-based agents.

Gurpej claimed that the family paid around Rs 40-50 lakhs for the well-being of their child. However, his death now makes them believe that the money they routed through the agents did not reach the intended recipients.

“Overall, the family paid anywhere between Rs 40 to Rs 50 lakh to the travel agents and the donkers," he added.

Adding more to the misery, the family got a call from a man who claimed that their son was dead. The man asked for Rs 3 lakhs to provide them with proof of his claim.

When the payment was made, the trafficker sent a death certificate and photos.

Gurpej claimed that the family had previously approached the police, and two local agents were arrested.

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The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d...

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