Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Mehsana Police Help Secure Release of Three Indians Kidnapped in Ethiopia
Three cousins from Gujarat hoped to travel to the United States using an illegal route.
Police say they were kidnapped after reaching Ethiopia and held for about a week.
Their family reported them missing after losing contact.
Mehsana police and a family contact spoke with a man who called himself “Baba Khan.”
The kidnappers first demanded Rs 1 crore and later lowered the demand to Rs 15 lakh.
The family said it could not pay, and the cousins were released without a ransom.
They flew from Addis Ababa to Mumbai and reached India on October 1.
India’s foreign ministry said Ethiopian authorities rescued them, while Indian officials also helped.
Police are trying to trace an alleged travel agent linked to the case.
Three cousins from Gujarat—Mamta, Rutvik and Mayuri—returned to India on October 1 after being held in Ethiopia for about a week.
Police said the cousins had travelled toward the United States via an alleged illegal “dunki” route and were abducted in Ethiopia.
The alleged kidnappers initially demanded Rs 1 crore, later reducing the demand to Rs 15 lakh; the cousins were released without paying a ransom.
Mehsana Inspector A M Gehlot and others negotiated by phone with a man who called himself “Baba Khan,” whom police suspect used an alias.
The Ministry of External Affairs said Ethiopian authorities rescued the cousins in Addis Ababa, with the Indian Embassy and Indian law enforcement also involved.
- Who
- Cousins Mamta, Rutvik and Mayuri; Mehsana Police and Ethiopian authorities were involved in their release and return.
- What
- The three cousins were allegedly kidnapped in Ethiopia and returned to India without a ransom being paid.
- When
- They left India on September 21, were reported missing on September 29, and returned on October 1.
- Where
- They were held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and returned to India via Mumbai.
- Why
- Police said the cousins were attempting to reach the United States through an alleged illegal migration route.
Mehsana Police account
MEA account
How the cousins were released
Mehsana Police account
Mehsana Police described negotiations by Inspector A M Gehlot, a family contact and police personnel with the alleged abductor; the cousins were released without a ransom.
MEA account
MEA sources said Ethiopian authorities rescued the cousins in Addis Ababa, while the Indian Embassy stayed in contact with local authorities and Indian law enforcement contributed.
- Cousins
- Mamta, 30; Rutvik, 23; and Mayuri, 27
- Reported missing
- Their family filed a missing-persons report at Langhnaj police station on September 29.
- Journey home
- They flew from Addis Ababa to Mumbai on Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 640 and arrived around 2 a.m. on October 1.
- Initial ransom demand
- Police sources said the alleged kidnappers demanded Rs 1 crore.
- Reduced ransom demand
- Inspector A M Gehlot said the demand was later reduced to Rs 15 lakh.
- Ransom paid
- The cousins were released without paying the demanded ransom, according to police.
- Official account
- MEA sources said Ethiopian authorities rescued the cousins in Addis Ababa, with the Indian Embassy in contact with local authorities and Indian law enforcement contributing.
