3 Gujarat residents kidnapped in Ethiopia on US dunki route return home
Synopsis
Three Gujarat residents who allegedly paid up to ₹75 lakh each to agents to reach the US illegally were kidnapped in Ethiopia and held for ₹1 crore ransom before being repatriated with MEA help — the latest in a string of deadly dunki-route tragedies involving Gujaratis, following deaths in Canada, the St Lawrence River, and off the California coast.
Key Takeaways
Rutvik Jansari , Mamta Chavda , and Mayuri returned to India on 1 October , arriving at Mumbai airport at 3 am after being rescued from Ethiopia .
The three had left Gujarat on 20 September , allegedly paying agents around ₹70–75 lakh per person to arrange illegal passage to the US.
A man identified as 'Khan' allegedly demanded ₹1 crore ransom; ₹60 lakh was reportedly paid but demands continued.
Alleged abductors are reportedly linked to the 'Baba Khan network' , according to police, though the investigation is ongoing.
The case follows a pattern of fatal dunki-route attempts: deaths in Canada (2022) , the St Lawrence River (2023) , and off California (May 2025) .
The Ministry of External Affairs coordinated the trio's repatriation; agents Alpesh Patel (Mehsana) and Bhargav Patel (Vadodara) are under investigation.
Three Gujarat residents who went missing in Ethiopia while allegedly attempting to reach the United States through an illegal migration route — commonly known as the 'dunki' route — have safely returned to India and are en route to Mehsana district, police confirmed on Thursday, 1 October 2026. The trio's return follows a coordinated effort by the Ministry of External Affairs and local authorities after their families raised an abduction alarm.
How the Three Reached India
The rescued individuals — Rutvik Jansari, Mamta Chavda, and Mayuri — arrived at Mumbai airport at 3 am on Thursday after the Ministry of External Affairs stepped in to facilitate their repatriation. Langhnaj Police Inspector Ankush Gehlot confirmed they are now travelling back to Mehsana, their hometown.
The three had originally left Gujarat on 20 September, allegedly paying agents tens of lakhs of rupees each to arrange their illegal passage to the US. They travelled via Jaipur and Abu Dhabi before arriving in Ethiopia. Their families lost all contact with them after 22 September, prompting Kirit Chauhan, father of Mamta Chavda, to approach the Langhnaj police.
The Alleged Abduction and Ransom Demand
According to police, after the three reached Ethiopia, a man identifying himself as 'Khan' allegedly contacted the families and demanded ₹1 crore for their release. Rutvik's grandfather, Kanubhai Jansari, claimed that ₹60 lakh was paid after the trio was allegedly taken captive, yet the demand for ₹1 crore reportedly continued.
Inspector Gehlot said the alleged abductors have reportedly been identified as being linked to the 'Baba Khan network', though he stressed the matter remains under active investigation. 'The abductors have reportedly been found to be from the Baba Khan network. The matter is currently being investigated,' Gehlot said.
The Agent Chain and the Cost of the Journey
Families initially approached a local contact identified as Jitubhai, who connected them with Mehsana-based agent Alpesh Patel. Alpesh allegedly put them in touch with Bhargav Patel of Vadodara. The cost of the journey was allegedly fixed at around ₹75 lakh per person, though family members earlier told reporters they had paid approximately ₹70 lakh per person.
Notably, Mamta's husband, Chiragkumar, had reportedly travelled to the US around six months earlier on a student visa. Mamta had allegedly attempted to obtain a US visa six times without success before the family turned to illegal intermediaries.
Part of a Grim Pattern of Illegal Migration From Gujarat
This case is the latest in a series of fatal and near-fatal incidents involving Gujaratis attempting to reach the US through irregular routes. In January 2022, a family of four from Dingucha in Gandhinagar district froze to death while attempting to cross from Canada into the US. In 2023, a Mehsana family drowned in the St Lawrence River during a similar attempt. In May 2025, a Mehsana family was among those on a boat that capsized off the California coast while trying to enter the US from Mexico.
Police are continuing to investigate the alleged abduction, the ransom demand, and the role of agents who arranged the trio's travel. The case has renewed calls for stricter action against illegal migration networks operating out of Gujarat.
Point of View
But the deeper story is structural: Gujaratis continue to pay ₹70–75 lakh per person to criminal networks for a journey that has already killed multiple families. The 'Baba Khan network' being named suggests organised transnational crime, yet action against domestic agent chains — the Jitubhais, Alpesh Patels, and Bhargav Patels — remains episodic rather than systematic. The MEA's intervention is commendable, but the pattern of dunki-route tragedies from Dingucha to California indicates that neither deterrence nor legal migration pathways are keeping pace with demand. Until that imbalance is addressed, the next ransom call is only a matter of time.
NationPress
1 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the three Gujarat residents rescued from Ethiopia?
They are Rutvik Jansari, Mamta Chavda, and Mayuri, all residents of Mehsana district in Gujarat. They had left India on 20 September, allegedly paying agents around ₹70–75 lakh each to arrange illegal passage to the United States via Ethiopia.
What is the 'dunki route' to the US?
The dunki route refers to an illegal, multi-country overland and sea migration path used by Indians — particularly Gujaratis — to enter the United States without a visa. It typically involves multiple transit countries, travel agents, and high payments to criminal middlemen, and carries significant risks of death, detention, or abduction.
Who allegedly kidnapped the three and what was the ransom demanded?
A man identifying himself as 'Khan' allegedly contacted the families after the trio reached Ethiopia and demanded ₹1 crore for their release. Police say the alleged abductors are reportedly linked to the 'Baba Khan network', though the investigation is ongoing. Rutvik's grandfather claimed ₹60 lakh was paid, but demands continued.
How did the three return to India?
The Ministry of External Affairs coordinated their repatriation along with local authorities. The three arrived at Mumbai airport at 3 am on 1 October and are now travelling back to Mehsana, their hometown.
Is this the first such incident involving Gujaratis on illegal US migration routes?
No — this is part of a recurring pattern. In January 2022, a family of four from Dingucha in Gandhinagar froze to death crossing from Canada into the US. In 2023, a Mehsana family drowned in the St Lawrence River in a similar attempt. In May 2025, a Mehsana family was on a boat that capsized off the California coast while trying to enter the US from Mexico.
