A young man from Haryana, identified as 18-year-old Yuvraj, tragically lost his life in Guatemala. He had embarked on a journey last year with the hope of reaching the United States through the illegal “dunki” route. His family was recently informed of his death, allegedly at the hands of human traffickers who had held him captive.
Yuvraj, who had completed his Class 12 education, was from Mohna village in Kaithal district and aimed to support his family through employment abroad. His maternal uncle, Gurpej Singh, stated that they were assured of Yuvraj’s safe passage to the US via a network of contacts.
The family’s ordeal began when they received disturbing photos and a death certificate from one of the “donkers” (human traffickers), claiming that Yuvraj and another youth from Punjab had been killed. Gurpej Singh recounted that after an initial payment to three Haryana-based travel agents, contact with Yuvraj was lost. Months later, the family received videos showing Yuvraj and his companion held hostage in Guatemala, followed by ransom demands.
“Recently, one of the ‘donkers’ contacted the family claiming Yuvraj had been killed and demanded ₹3 lakh to provide proof. After the payment, they sent a death certificate and photos,” the uncle explained, adding that the family suspects the money paid to local agents did not reach the traffickers overseas.
In total, the family reportedly paid between ₹40 to ₹50 lakh to the travel agents and traffickers. They had previously approached the police, leading to the arrest of two local agents. However, their efforts were met with the heartbreaking news of Yuvraj’s death.
Yuvraj’s tragic story highlights the extreme dangers faced by many individuals from Haryana, Punjab, and other Indian states who attempt to reach the US through “dunki routes.” These unauthorized pathways are notoriously hazardous and frequently exploited by human traffickers, leading to severe abuse and, in many cases, deportation or worse, as seen in Yuvraj’s case.