Ahmedabad, In a recent development, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed the Gujarat High Court that despite concerted efforts by its embassies in the Caribbean, there is no trace of the nine Indian citizens who went missing during their illegal journey to the US.
The MEA revealed that Indian missions conveyed information suggesting that the missing persons might be either in the US or in hiding. The ministry assured the court of ongoing, sincere, and coordinated efforts to ascertain the whereabouts of the missing individuals.
However, the MEA’s secretary, in an affidavit, shared that local authorities in the Caribbean expressed apprehension that, given the lack of legal immigration channels, the missing persons may be in hiding or have reached their desired destinations. The court, presided over by Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Aniruddha Mayee, adjourned the case until the first week of February, based on the MEA’s commitment to persist with the search operation.
The MEA reported that its missions in various Caribbean locations have been actively trying to locate the missing persons, but these efforts have so far proven unsuccessful. The missing individuals reportedly went off the grid in February, and despite extensive searches, no traces have been found.
Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal acknowledged the challenges faced by Indian missions, emphasizing the difficulty in tracing individuals who have left the country using illegal documents. She expressed concerns about the possibility of illegal migrants being kept as bonded laborers.
The court’s decision to adjourn the case reflects the complexity of dealing with illegal migration and the challenges associated with tracing individuals who embark on such journeys without proper documentation.
