Rajya Sabha member Balbir Singh Seechewal has demanded a thorough investigation into the nexus of a ‘Khan Baba’ gang targeting unemployed, gullible youth of Punjab.He said that the role of the gang had surfaced recently in a case wherein two youths had been lured with job promises, taken to Thailand, kept hostage, and a demand for ransom was made from their families.He presented families who had allegedly fallen victim to the gang recently. Seechewal said that on July 29, the families of Kulraj Singh from Jalandhar and Manpreet Singh from Kapurthala had approached him.According to the families, agents had promised to send both youths to Spain, but they ended up in the clutches of the gang. The matter was immediately brought to the attention of the Ministry of External Affairs.Manpreet Singh returned to India on August 9, while the family of Kulraj Singh said that he is currently in police custody in Thailand. According to the families, lakhs of rupees were demanded in exchange for the release of the youths.Manpreet’s family claimed that they paid Rs 22.50 lakh for his return, while Kulraj’s family alleged that after taking Rs 8 lakh, the accused demanded another Rs 15 lakh. The families further alleged that the youths were subjected to torture and that videos or audio recordings of them were sent to their families to intimidate them and demand ransom.Seechewal said that similar cases involving Iraq, Kenya, Ethiopia, and other countries had also come to light in the past. He said he has written to the Union Home Minister, Union External Affairs Minister, and the Punjab DGP, seeking a thorough investigation into the entire network and assistance from Interpol.He said it must also be established, which agents are allegedly facilitating the movement of young people into such gangs and what links exist between them. Seechewal urged people to remain cautious if any agent claims that payment would be taken only after reaching a foreign country. He warned people not to fall for such offers, saying that such promises could be a trap.‘Every moment, I felt I might not survive’ Manpreet Singh, who safely returned to India after allegedly being held captive by the ‘Khan Baba’ gang, became emotional while describing his ordeal. He said the time he spent there was extremely frightening and that he constantly feared for his life. He said that his passport was not returned to him when he was sent back. At airports, officials reportedly allowed him to proceed after checking his photograph on a mobile phone.Meanwhile, Kulraj’s family said that their son, despite allegedly being a victim of torture himself, is currently in police custody in Thailand. The family said that those playing with the lives of young people remain behind the scenes and use innocent youths as pawns.Manpreet’s return also needs a detailed investigation Seechewal said that the manner in which Manpreet returned to India could provide important clues about how far the network of the alleged gang extends. He said the entire process of Manpreet Singh’s return should also be thoroughly investigated. Questions need to be answered about how he reached an international airport without a passport, who gave him instructions, and which individuals or network helped him during his return. He said that investigating this entire chain could provide crucial leads in exposing the alleged human trafficking network operating under the name ‘Khan Baba’.