Three residents of Gujarat have gone missing in Ethiopia while allegedly attempting to travel to the United States through an illegal route. Their families have claimed that the three were kidnapped after reaching Ethiopia and that the alleged abductors demanded Rs 1 crore for their release.
The missing individuals have been identified as Rutvik Jansari from Vadsma village in Mehsana district, Mamta Chavda, originally from Mehsana and currently residing in Ahmedabad, and Mayuri from Gandhinagar. The three are related to one another and reportedly left Gujarat on September 20 with the help of intermediaries who were arranging their journey to the United States.
According to the families, an agent from Mehsana district helped arrange the journey and allegedly connected them with another agent in Vadodara. The families said they had paid a substantial amount to the agents for arranging the travel. Mamta's father, Kiritbhai Chauhan, told reporters that around Rs 70 lakh had been paid for each person.
The families later lost contact with the three after they reached Ethiopia. Police said that the whereabouts of the three could not be established after September 22. Mamta's father subsequently filed a missing persons complaint at Langhnaj police station. Inspector A M Gehlot confirmed that the police had received the complaint and were looking into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance.
The families have alleged that the three were being held captive in Ethiopia. They said an alleged kidnapper demanded Rs 1 crore for their release. Kiritbhai Chauhan appealed to the government to intervene and help bring the three people back safely.
The family has also claimed that it had already spent a large amount of money on the proposed journey to the United States. Chauhan said the family had little money left after making the payments to the agents and appealed to the authorities for assistance.
Rutvik Jansari's grandfather, Kanubhai Jansari, also claimed that the alleged kidnappers had demanded Rs 1 crore. He further claimed that Rs 60 lakh had already been paid to the abductors. Local agent Alpesh Panchal separately told reporters that a ransom demand of Rs 1 crore had been made. These claims are part of the information provided by the families and people connected with the travel arrangements, while the police investigation is continuing.
Police officials have also provided details about Mamta's attempts to travel to the United States. According to Inspector Gehlot, Mamta's husband had travelled to the US on a student visa several months earlier. Mamta had allegedly made several unsuccessful attempts to obtain a US visa. Her family subsequently approached intermediaries to arrange travel through an illegal route.
According to the police complaint, the agents had allegedly fixed a payment of approximately Rs 75 lakh per person for the journey. The three then left Gujarat on September 20. After Mamta spoke to her father on September 22, communication with the three reportedly stopped.
Reports from other news organisations have provided additional details about the alleged travel route. NDTV reported that the three travelled through Jaipur, Abu Dhabi and Addis Ababa before contact was lost. The report also said the police were examining the role of travel agents involved in the journey and attempting to trace the ransom call.
The case has raised concerns about illegal migration networks and the risks faced by people who depend on intermediaries to arrange overseas travel outside established visa and immigration procedures. The families' allegations also raise questions about the activities of agents who reportedly collected large sums of money for arranging the journey.
At present, the reported kidnapping and ransom demand remain allegations. Police have confirmed that the three people are missing and that a complaint has been registered, but the exact circumstances of their disappearance and their current location have not been publicly established.
The families have urged the Indian authorities to take immediate steps to locate the three missing people and ensure their safe return. Investigators are expected to examine the travel arrangements, the role of the intermediaries and the reported ransom communication as part of the investigation.
The incident also highlights the importance of using legal immigration channels when travelling abroad. People seeking employment, education or family reunification in another country are generally advised to obtain the appropriate visa and verify the credentials of travel agents before making large payments.
The immediate focus in this case remains on locating Rutvik Jansari, Mamta Chavda and Mayuri and determining what happened after they reached Ethiopia. Further details are expected as the police investigation and efforts to trace the three individuals continue.
