Ever since the tragic end of a family of four from Dingucha last January, which froze to death in their bid to crossover illegally to the US from the Manitoba border, the thriving illegal immigration to the US has been under scanner. However, a year later, that did little to deter phony agents from luring another family of four into a “boat ride” on the choppy St Lawrence River. It has now been learnt that the family did not know how to swim and were told about the ride “last moment.”
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On April 2, eight bodies were recovered from a marshy area of the St Lawrence River in Akwesasne region of Canadian province Quebec. Seeing the photos surface on social media, their larger kin in Gujarat identified the family. “They were from Manekpur village in Mehsana district. We have spoken to the family,” Mehsana SP Achal Tyagi, had confirmed.
The four were identified as Pravin Chaudhary (50), his wife Diksha Chaudhary (45), and their children, Vidhi Chaudhary (23), and Meet Chaudhary (20). The family reached Canada on February 2.
In the investigative trail that followed the death, the CID (Crime) traced the deal to agents Nikul Bihola, Arjun Chavda and Sachin Bihola. The family paid a lumpsum Rs 60 lakhs for the “arrangement” which was supposed to entail a “taxi ride to the US.” A lookout notice has been issued for the trio, who have been at large ever since the incident.
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Pravin’s cousin brother Jashu Chaudhary earlier submitted a plea, claiming that the agents must be brought to account. “They misguided the family and pushed them to their fate on a day when the weather was reportedly rough. The agents promised to take them to the US in a taxi, but they later forcibly made them get on to a boat,” briefed an investigating officer.
According to R.B. Brahmabhat, CID (Crime Head), said the Mehsana district police has a strong case and will shortly register a FIR on basis of a report by investigating officers, naming the agents involved.
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