Anil Varghese, a 24-year-old from Kochi, Kerala, shared a chilling account of his month-long captivity in Iran. Arriving home on June 20 after his release, Varghese described unimaginable horrors endured in a Tehran detention facility. “When I asked for water, I was made to drink urine,” he told local media, exposing the brutal treatment faced during his 30-day ordeal amid Iran’s escalating conflict with Israel.
Trapped in a Nightmare
Varghese, a mechanic, traveled to Iran in May 2025 for a job in Bandar Abbas but was detained on May 15 at Imam Khomeini Airport over visa irregularities. Transferred to a cramped cell in Tehran, he endured daily beatings, starvation, and psychological abuse. “They laughed as they forced me to drink urine instead of water,” he recalled. Held with 20 others, including Pakistanis and Afghans, he was subjected to forced labor, cleaning military vehicles under armed guard.
Physical and Mental Toll
The captivity left Varghese malnourished, with visible bruises and a fractured rib. He described being fed stale bread once daily and denied medical care. Sleep deprivation and threats of execution haunted him, especially as U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran intensified. His release on June 18 followed Indian embassy interventions after his employer reported his absence.
India’s Response
The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed Varghese’s repatriation, issuing a travel advisory against non-essential trips to Iran. The case has sparked outrage on X, with users demanding accountability for Indian workers’ safety abroad. Varghese’s family, relieved but traumatized, seeks compensation from his recruiter.
Indian Man recounts Iran Ordeal
Varghese’s ordeal underscores the risks faced by Indian migrant workers in conflict zones. With 9 million Indians in the Gulf, his story prompts calls for stricter oversight of overseas job agencies and enhanced diplomatic protections. As he begins recovery, Varghese’s courage in sharing his trauma highlights the need for global worker safety reforms.
