3 Indians Going to US Kidnapped in Ethiopia

Article by Satya Published on: 3:41 pm, 30 September 2026

Three Gujarat residents who were trying to reach the United States through an alleged illegal route have gone missing in Ethiopia, turning their American dream into a nightmare for their families.

Rutvik Jansari from Mehsana, Mamta Chavda from Ahmedabad and Mayuri from Gandhinagar reportedly left Gujarat on September 20 after agents promised to arrange their journey to the US. The three are relatives and had reportedly paid a huge amount for the journey.

The families lost contact with them after September 22. Police have registered a missing persons complaint and are trying to trace their whereabouts.

The family members have alleged that the three were taken captive in Ethiopia and that the people behind the alleged abduction demanded ₹1 crore for their release. Rutvik’s grandfather also claimed that around ₹60 lakh had already been paid after the ransom demand. However, these claims have not yet been independently established by authorities.

The journey itself reportedly involved multiple intermediaries. According to reports, the family approached agents after Mamta was unable to obtain a US visa despite several attempts. The agents allegedly offered an unauthorised route to America, with the reported cost ranging between ₹70 lakh and ₹75 lakh per person.

The case has once again brought attention to the risks involved in illegal migration networks. People desperate to reach the US sometimes hand over huge amounts of money to intermediaries who promise to find alternative routes when legal visa options do not work out.

In this case, what happened to the three Gujarat residents after they reached Ethiopia is still being investigated. Their families are now appealing to the authorities to trace them and bring them back safely.

The incident also shows the risks involved in trusting unofficial agents for overseas travel. A journey that began with hopes of reaching the US has now left three families waiting for answers about the safety and whereabouts of their loved ones.