14 Months After Son Goes Missing in Panama, Father Holds on to Hope of His Return

• Feb 19, 2025

On February 16, Joginder Singh, a 60-year-old resident of Pathankot, was at Amritsar airport, searching desperately for his son, Jagmeet Singh, among a group of deported individuals arriving from the US. This marked the third time in just two weeks that Joginder had gone to the airport, hoping to find his son among the deportees. Each time, he asked as many individuals as he could whether they had seen Jagmeet, with whom he last spoke over the phone 14 months ago.

Despite his continued searches, Joginder’s hope remains unfulfilled, leaving him once again in despair. His son has been missing since he set off on a journey to the United States via Panama. Since that time, Joginder has been meeting with politicians and police officers, convinced that his son is still lost somewhere in the jungles of Panama.

"Sometimes, against all odds, against all logic, we still hope. This hope keeps me alive," said Joginder, speaking of the enduring grief he faces.

According to Joginder, his son, who had completed his MBA, was lured by deceitful travel agents who promised quick riches for those willing to travel to the US. Despite his father’s advice to start a business locally, Jagmeet, driven by the allure of wealth, decided to pursue the American dream. Joginder even paid a hefty Rs 15 lakh to a travel agent to arrange for his son’s trip, and Jagmeet left Pathankot in the first week of November. Before departing, Joginder gave his son $5,000 in cash to help him with his journey.

After leaving Pathankot, Jagmeet called from Delhi to inform his father that he was about to board a direct flight to New York. However, contrary to his promise, the travel agent rerouted him to Guyana, where Jagmeet's troubles began.

The last communication Joginder received from his son came on December 19, 2023. Jagmeet said he was in the jungles of Panama, but the call abruptly disconnected, and subsequent attempts to reach him failed.

The police later traced his digital footprint to the Darien Gap, a dangerous jungle area known for its treacherous conditions, including snakes and swamps. While law enforcement believes the worst may have happened, Joginder refuses to accept this grim possibility, still holding on to the hope of finding his son alive.

The travel agent responsible for arranging Jagmeet’s trip has been arrested and is now in the Gurdaspur jail after Joginder filed an FIR against him. However, Joginder is upset that the agent’s wife, who he believes was also involved, was excluded from the FIR.

"Sometimes, clouds obscure the sun, but the sun never stops shining," said Joginder, clinging to the belief that his son will one day return.

SSP Daljinder Singh Dhillon reassured the family, stating that the investigation is ongoing. "We are doing everything we can to bring him back," he said.