3 U.S.-bound Gujarat residents missing in Ethiopia; families allege abduction, ₹1 crore ransom demand

Three residents of Gujarat who reportedly set out for the United States via an illegal route have gone missing after arriving in Ethiopia, with their families alleging the trio were abducted and that the kidnappers have demanded ₹1 crore for their release.

Who is missing

The missing persons, all related to one another, have been identified as:

Rutvik Jansari, a resident of Vadsma village in Mehsana district;

Mamta Chavda, originally from Mehsana and currently living in Ahmedabad; and

Mayuri, from Gandhinagar.

Police said the three — two women and a man — could not be traced after September 22.

Journey arranged through intermediaries

According to relatives, the three left their homes on September 20 to travel to the U.S. with the help of an agent from Mehsana who allegedly connected them to another agent based in Vadodara. Their families told reporters they had sought the assistance of intermediaries after conventional visa routes failed.

Inspector A. M. Gehlot of the Langhnaj police station said a missing person’s complaint was filed by the family. He added that, as per the complaint, Mamta had tried repeatedly to obtain a U.S. visa but was unsuccessful, prompting her family to approach agents to facilitate an illegal route to the United States.

Ransom demand allegations

Family members alleged the three were held captive after they reached Ethiopia. Mamta’s father, Kiritbhai Chauhan, said the family had already paid substantial sums to arrange the journey and that the alleged kidnappers were now demanding ₹1 crore to free the trio.

“We have already paid huge money to send them (to the U.S.). We have nothing left and are helpless. We request the government to bring our three children back safely,” Mr. Chauhan said.

Kanubhai Jansari, Rutvik’s grandfather, also claimed the abductors had demanded ₹1 crore for the release of all three and said ₹60 lakh had already been paid. He did not provide further details.

Alpesh Panchal, described by locals as an agent, told reporters that those who kidnapped the Gujarat residents in Ethiopia had demanded ₹1 crore.

Payments and terms described by families

Relatives gave differing figures for what they said they paid to intermediaries in Gujarat. Mr. Chauhan said the family paid around ₹70 lakh per person to an agent to arrange travel to the U.S. Inspector Gehlot, citing the complaint, said the amount allegedly fixed for the journey was ₹75 lakh per person. The three left on September 20, and Mr. Chauhan spoke to his daughter for the last time on September 22.

Police complaint and timeline

Police said the trio have been reported missing and that their whereabouts have not been known since September 22. A missing person’s complaint was registered at the Langhnaj police station after the families were unable to re-establish contact. The police did not confirm the families’ abduction claims or the alleged ransom demand.

Family appeals for government intervention

The relatives have appealed publicly for help, urging authorities to intervene to secure the safe return of the three. They said they had exhausted their resources arranging the journey and could not meet further demands.

Additional background provided by police

Inspector Gehlot said in the complaint that Mamta’s husband, Chirag Kumar, had gone to the U.S. on a student visa about six months earlier. After failing to obtain a U.S. visa despite several attempts, Mamta’s family turned to intermediaries to facilitate travel through an irregular route. According to the complaint, the three left their homes on September 20 and dropped out of contact after September 22, when Mr. Chauhan last spoke to Mamta.

What is known so far

– The three missing individuals are all related and are from Mehsana, Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.

– Families claim they were abducted in Ethiopia and that a ransom of ₹1 crore was demanded; one relative alleged ₹60 lakh had already been paid.

– Police confirmed a missing person’s complaint has been lodged and said the trio have not been traceable since September 22. Authorities have not corroborated the abduction or ransom claims.

Conclusion

The case has heightened concern over the risks associated with irregular migration routes and sparked urgent appeals from the families for official intervention. As of now, the three Gujarat residents remain untraceable since September 22, and police have registered a missing person’s complaint while relatives press their claims of abduction and ransom demands.