Three Gujarat Residents Kidnapped in Ethiopia While Attempting to Reach US Return to India
Mehsana — Three Gujarat residents who were allegedly kidnapped in Ethiopia while attempting to reach the United States through an illegal migration route have returned to India following government intervention, police confirmed.
Rutvik Jansari, Mamta Chavda and Mayuri arrived at Mumbai airport and were traveling to their hometown in Gujarat’s Mehsana district, according to Langhnaj Police Inspector Ankush Gehlot.
The three had left Gujarat after allegedly paying agents millions of rupees to arrange their journey to the United States through an illegal migration route commonly known as the “dunki” route.
“They reached Mumbai airport at 3 a.m. today with the help and coordination of the Ministry of External Affairs and other local authorities. They are on their way to Mehsana, their hometown,” Gehlot said.
Police suspect the alleged kidnappers were connected to the Baba Khan network, although the investigation remains ongoing.
The three traveled through Jaipur and Abu Dhabi before reaching Ethiopia, where their families lost contact with them. Mamta’s father, Kirit Chauhan, subsequently filed a police complaint.
According to the complaint, Mamta’s husband, Chiragkumar, had traveled to the United States on a student visa about six months earlier. After six unsuccessful attempts to obtain a US visa, Mamta’s family allegedly approached intermediaries to arrange an alternative route.
Police said the family initially contacted a person identified as Jitubhai, who introduced them to Mehsana-based agent Alpesh Patel. Alpesh subsequently connected them with Bhargav Patel of Vadodara.
The journey reportedly cost approximately Rs 75 lakh ($7.5 million rupees) per person, although family members previously claimed they had paid around Rs 70 lakh each.
After the travelers reached Ethiopia, a man identifying himself as Khan allegedly contacted their families and demanded Rs 1 crore (10 million rupees) for their release.
Rutvik’s grandfather, Kanubhai Jansari, claimed the family had already paid Rs 60 lakh after the three were taken captive, but the kidnappers continued demanding additional money.
The families eventually sought government assistance, leading to the safe return of all three travelers.
The incident highlights the dangers associated with illegal migration routes used by some Gujarat residents attempting to enter the United States.
Several previous attempts have ended in tragedy. A family of four from Gujarat’s Dingucha village froze to death while attempting to cross the Canadian border into the United States in 2022. In 2023, a family from Mehsana drowned in the St. Lawrence River during a similar attempt.
Another Mehsana family was among those aboard a boat that capsized off the California coast while attempting to enter the United States from Mexico in 2025.
Police are continuing to investigate the alleged kidnapping, ransom demands and involvement of the agents who organized the travelers’ journey. (Source: IANS)
