Gujarat family travelling to US goes missing

Three residents of Gujarat, Rutvik Jansari, Mamta Chavda, and Mayuri, have gone missing in Ethiopia after allegedly traveling to the US through an illegal route, according to a TOI report. The families claim the trio was kidnapped and demanded a ransom of ₹1 crore for their release. Rutvik, Mamta, and Mayuri left for the US on September 20 with the help of agents, but their whereabouts have remained unknown since September 22, police reported on Tuesday.

The families have appealed to the government to intervene and bring them back safely, alleging they paid large sums to agents for the journey. Mamta's father, Kiritbhai Chauhan, stated that the family paid around ₹70 lakh for each individual to an agent to facilitate their travel to the US. Once in Ethiopia, the kidnappers demanded the hefty ransom.

Rutvik's grandfather, Kanubhai Jansari, confirmed the ₹1 crore demand and said ₹60 lakh had already been paid. A local agent in Ethiopia confirmed the ransom demand. The families have sought government assistance to secure the safe return of the missing persons, who are related to one another and hail from different parts of Gujarat: Rutvik from Vadsma village in Mehsana district, Mamta from Mehsana and currently residing in Ahmedabad, and Mayuri from Gandhinagar.