Three individuals from a Gujarati family are reportedly being held captive in Ethiopia after attempting to migrate to the US through an illegal route, with their captors demanding a ransom of ₹1 crore. The families, who paid significant amounts to agents for passage, have lost contact with the missing individuals after they reached Ethiopia and are now appealing to the Indian government for their safe return.

Three individuals from a Gujarati family are reportedly being held captive in Ethiopia after attempting to migrate to the US through an illegal route, with their captors demanding a ransom of ₹1 crore. The families, who paid significant amounts to agents for passage, have lost contact with the missing individuals after they reached Ethiopia and are now appealing to the Indian government for their safe return.

Three individuals from a Gujarati family are reportedly being held captive in Ethiopia after attempting to migrate to the US through an illegal route, with their captors demanding a ransom of ₹1 crore. The families, who paid significant amounts to agents for passage, have lost contact with the missing individuals after they reached Ethiopia and are now appealing to the Indian government for their safe return.

Three individuals from the same Gujarati family are allegedly being held captive in Ethiopia after they attempted to travel to the US through an illegal route. Ritwik Jansari Vadsma from Mehsana, Mamta Chavda from Gojaria and Mayuri from Gandhinagar are the missing youth. The kidnappers have reportedly demanded ₹1 crore for their release.

On September 20, the three relatives left India with the help of a local agent, Alpesh Panchal from Kadi. Four days later, their families approached the local police and reported that they had lost contact with them. They added that a man had contacted them, demanding ransom.

According to the family, 30-year-old Mamta’s husband has been living in the US for the past three years on a student visa. Despite multiple attempts to obtain a visa, the US Consulate allegedly rejected her application. At this point, Alpesh Panchal approached them, offering to help them travel to the country without a visa through an illegal migration route. The family agreed, with Mamta’s 23-year-old cousin Rutvik and 27-year-old Mayuri joining the plan to leave India.  

Vadodara-based agent Bhargav Patel took over from here, demanding around ₹60 to ₹75 lakh per person, which was paid in instalments. According to Panchal, the three cousins travelled from Gujarat to Rajasthan and then to Jaipur. From Jaipur, they flew to Abu Dhabi on an Etihad Airways flight.

After reaching Ethiopia’s capital , Addis Ababa, the three stayed at a GSF camp on Swaziland Street. All three individuals reportedly have Ethiopian e-visas that are valid from September 19 to October 19. The agent remained in contact with the family and continued to collect the money instalments.

On September 22, Mamta called her father and informed him that they had reached Canada. However, all three of their phones were switched off after the call. The family initially believed the three were on their way to the US.

After communication stopped, the family received a call from a man who identified himself as “Khan.” They demanded ₹1 crore from the family for the release of the three relatives. Kiritbhai Chauhan, Mamta’s father, was financially exhausted and approached the police for help.

Meanwhile, Panchal claims that he has lost his primary international contact.

According to a TOI report, Kiritbhai said that they paid the agent ₹70 lakh, adding that he trusted the agent throughout the process. “We request the government to bring our three children back safely,” he said.

Ritwik’s father and Mamta’s mother are also seeking government assistance to bring the three back home safely.