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JIND: Smugglers shot dead a Haryana youth who was attempting to enter the US through the illegal "dunki" route after holding him captive in Guatemala, according to his family members.Yuvraj (18), the only son of his parents, was from Kaithal district. He had left for the US on October 13, 2024. The family said they came to know about his fate last week after a death certificate sent by one of the smugglers, allegedly issued from Mexico, mentioned that he died on March 4, 2025, from a bullet injury. Last year, agents had struck a Rs 41-lakh deal with Yuvraj's parents, assuring them payment would only be taken after he reached his destination.
Despite this, they took Rs 25 lakh in advance under various pretexts, said Yuvraj's father Kuldeep.
Soon after the initial payment, the family lost contact with him. Some months later, they received chilling videos showing Yuvraj, along with a youth from Punjab, being held hostage in Guatemala. In the videos, the smugglers could be seen forcing the youths to lie face down on the floor while slapping and beating them.
They loaded pistols and threatened to kill them, demanding nearly Rs 17.5 lakh for Yuvraj's release, Kuldeep said.In his last recorded message, Yuvraj was seen pleading with his family. "Papaji, they have taken us hostage. They are beating us badly. They will kill us... please send the money. Otherwise, they will kill us," he begged. The family met with Kaithal SP in March to demand action against the agents and to ensure the youth's safe return.
However, their hopes were dashed after they contacted one of the smugglers, Paul, a Nepalese national.
"He told us that Yuvraj had been killed. When we asked for proof, he demanded money. We transferred $1,500 to his account. After that, he sent us photographs of the body and a copy of the death certificate," said Yuvraj's uncle Kulwant.Kulwant said three agents from Haryana were involved. "God will not spare those who did this to my son," Yuvraj's mother Sarabjit Kaur said.
English (US) ·