Indian Duo Kidnapped In Azerbaijan; Torture Live-Streamed To Family

Last Updated:February 12, 2026, 13:42 IST

Two youths from Gujarat were kidnapped in Azerbaijan during an illegal Donkey route to the United States.

What began as a hopeful journey towards a new life in the United States soon turned into a nightmare for a couple, as they encountered a seemingly endless journey.

Dhruv Patel (22) and Deepika Patel (32) – two youths from Gujarat – got in touch with a Mumbai-based agent, who promised to send them to America through the illegal “donkey route", India Today reports.

Soon, a series of horrendous ordeals followed as the duo got kidnapped in Azerbaijan, tortured, and threatened with organ trafficking. They were eventually rescued by Indian authorities after the MP from Anand approached External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

How Did They Reach Azerbaijan?

The youths, a native of Kanthariya in Gujarat’s Anand district, set out on their journey on January 30, hoping for a new beginning in America. From Anand, they reached Vadodara and later Delhi. The duo met at Delhi Airport.

As mentioned earlier, the journey was facilitated by a Mumbai-based agent through the illegal “donkey route". While Dhruv paid around Rs 35 lakh to the agent, Deepika shelled out around Rs 15 lakh, according to the India Today report.

What Is ‘Donkey Or Dunki’ Route?

The ‘Donkey or Dunki’ route is an illegal migration route, mainly used by Indians and South Asians to reach the United States. The journey is not a walk in the park, for it involves crossing through multiple countries and forests.

Now, Azerbaijan, nestled at the border of Eastern Europe and West Asia, is a key transit point in the complex network of the route.

Dhruv and Deepika, unaware of what awaits them, reached Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku on February 1. Upon landing, they were asked by the agent to switch off their phones, India Today reported.

The agent, identified as Pawan, sought more money to proceed further. When the duo refused, they went kidnapped the next morning and were taken to a secluded house.

They were kept locked in the basement. Dhruv was brutally assaulted, with attackers making WhatsApp video calls to his family to make them watch the torture.

According to Dhruv’s family, as quoted by India Today, the kidnappers threatened them if the ransom was not paid, they would remove and sell his kidneys.

The panic-stricken families of the duo somehow managed to pay Rs 65 lakh to the kidnappers. Around half of the payment was made through cryptocurrency. However, the kidnappers demanded more money.

And The Rescue Begins

Clueless about what to do next, the families approached Anand MP Mitesh Patel. The MP met S Jaishankar in Delhi and sought assistance from the External Affairs Ministry.

Following this, the Indian embassy in Baku was alerted and a rescue operation began under the name ‘Operation Mahisagar’.

Within 24 hours, the youths were located and rescued from the kidnappers. Dhruv and Deepika are currently with the Indian embassy in Baku.

Legal proceedings are underway to bring them back to India.

Speaking on the incident, MP Mitesh Patel termed the incident “deeply disturbing", urging youths not to follow such shortcuts, the outlet reported.

News india Indian Duo Kidnapped In Azerbaijan; Torture Live-Streamed To Family

Read More