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The Indian government feels that the visa-free facility will be misused by illegally arresting Indians and probably using them as some bargaining chip in the future
Yogesh Panchal (in pic) and Mohammad Sadeeque went to Iran for business reasons in December 2024 but have been missing since then. (News18)
The government of India is planning to issue an advisory for travellers to Iran after receiving no response from the country’s authorities on the fate of three men who were reportedly abducted a month ago.
Sources told CNN-News18 that the Centre is upset because of the “non-responsive behaviour of Iranian authorities” and is planning to issue an advisory for travellers availing the free visa regime facility for the country.
“Three Indian nationals have gone missing in Iran over the past month and families have no relief. Two Indians — Yogesh Panchal and Mohammad Sadeeque — went to Iran for business reasons in December 2024 under the recently started 15-day visa waiver programme for Indians. This matter has been escalated to the top brass of the Iranian side but there has been no response,” they said.
According to Panchal’s wife, who spoke to CNN-News18, he was staying in a hostel in Tehran’s Baherestan area. “My husband is innocent and went to meet a trader for dry fruits.”
The sources added: “She was talking to Panchal on the phone when he disconnected and said someone has entered the room. According to her, she kept trying to call him but received no response. He was to return on December 11, 2024, but did not come on his scheduled return ticket.”
The issue was also communicated to Iranian deputy foreign minister Dr Majid Takht Ravanchi, who visited New Delhi in early January, but there has been no response.
“This is strange that three Indians who went separately have been detained or abducted in the same manner. We are going to issue a strong advisory for Indians going in the future so that they face no problem.”
Meanwhile, Indian authorities have checked with the dry fruit traders whom Panchal was to meet but he didn’t meet them either. The Indian government now feels that the visa-free facility will be misused by illegally arresting Indians and probably using them as some bargaining chip in the future.
